26 October 2022

Between February and July 2022, youth unemployment in Ireland has increased by 33% with many young people, especially those from marginalised communities, having barriers to accessing education and employment opportunities. YMCA Dublin hopes to combat this as it launches the Réidh Programme, a new training and education programme aimed at young people aged 16-30 who have left school early, are at risk of unemployment, are unemployed or are experiencing underemployment.

 

Réidh, which is supported by JP Morgan Chase, is a youth employment and skills-acquisition programme that aims to help young people to bridge and fill the gaps in their experiences and their CVs. Réidh will provide, not only growth opportunities to increase soft skills such as teamwork, communication, problem solving and time management, but will also support each individual by reducing barriers to education and employment.

 

Knowing that each young person’s story is different, the Réidh programme can be tailored to the young person’s needs, where they are in life, and their desired outcomes by offering mentoring, coaching, one-on-one support, workshops, as well as short and long term courses. Additionally, it aims to provide a community space of holistic support for young people throughout their training and employment journey with continued check-ins and peer support.

 

The programme aims to support 70 people in its first year and a number of participants have registered their interest in the programme, 88% of which are non-nationals or refugees seeking to work in Ireland.

 

Kathryn O'Mahony, CEO of YMCA, said: “We are delighted to finally have our Réidh programme up and running, where young people can learn the necessary skills, through things like mentoring, coaching, workshops and courses, to begin their employment journey. With the current cost of living crisis in the country and an influx of Ukrainian families seeking refuge in Ireland, it is a difficult time for anyone seeking employment, but particularly for young people. We are delighted to be able to offer support, guidance and the soft skills needed to help bridge the gap to employment.”

 

Marc Hussey, Senior Country Officer, J.P. Morgan Ireland, said: “We are proud to be supporting an innovative program which aims to reduce youth unemployment in Dublin. At JP Morgan Chase, we are committed to working to uplift communities, equipping underserved people with the tools, skills and real-world experience they need to grow, advance and be ready for the future of work. Ensuring equitable access to these resources is particularly important for young people as they begin their employment journey. We look forward to supporting the programme participants and watching them grow over the coming months.”

 

YMCA Dublin has an extensive history of working with young people, adults and their families in communities that are heavily impacted by poverty and social issues. Training and development opportunities have been facilitated for young people through their youth work department, Community Employment Scheme (CE scheme), and STEP programmes.

 

For more information on the Réidh Programme or to get involved in any of the YMCA Dublin programmes, please visit YMCA.ie