Students with learning disabilites graduate now

24 May 2007

Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey, today presented special achievement awards to students with learning disabilities from the NOW Project.

The NOW Project, based on the Springfield Road, Belfast, provides accredited training in the catering and hospitality fields for people with learning disabilities from North and West Belfast.

Speaking at the awards ceremony the Minister praised the on going work that the NOW Project delivers in enhancing the employment prospects of their students.  He said: “The success of the NOW Project in training these young people for work is particularly impressive as it is working in an area which still suffers high social and economic disadvantage. Employers in the hospitality and catering sectors want staff who are well trained and who are motivated to carrying out their job and I can see from the awards being presented today that the NOW Project graduates fall into these categories.”

NOW works closely with local employers to ensure that there are opportunities for students to use their skills and to find a job in their local community. The work skills that the students learn are reinforced by innovative training courses, which include; money management, independent travel and pre-employment skills. These courses are designed to ensure that once students enter work they have the skills to enable them to keep the job and to make use of the wage that they earn.

NOTES TO EDITORS

  1. The NOW Project receives funding from the European Social Fund under the Building Sustainable Prosperity Measure administered by the Department for Employment and Learning and from Peace II New Skills and New Opportunities Measure administered by Proteus NI. This funding is supported by match funding provided by the Belfast Health & Social Services Trust and the Disablement Advisory Service of the Department for Employment and Learning.
  2. The awards were presented at a Graduation Ceremony held at the Millennium Community Outreach Centre in Belfast.
  3. The NOW Project also operates two successful social economy coffee bars under the brand name Loaf. Loaf offers a corporate catering business that has a focus on healthy eating. This business aims to provide services to businesses based in the North and West areas of Belfast. Students get the opportunity to gain practical work experience while they undertake training in the Loaf business.
  4. Media queries to the Department for Employment and Learning Press Office on 028 9025 7872.