21,000 Northern Ireland pupils to be coached for success through LifeSkills created with Barclays
arclays has announced a major new partnership with Business in the
BCommunity NI to support the delivery of its UKwide LifeSkills employability programme for young people in Northern Ireland .
LifeSkills created with Barclays is a free curriculumlinked resource for 1124 year olds , which aims to inspire , educate and empower young people , by giving them access to employability skills to support the transition from education to work .
Business in the Community has been named as the programme ’ s new charity partner in Northern Ireland and will support its delivery in classrooms across the country , reaching 21,000 students and hundreds of local teachers over the next two years .
LifeSkills created with Barclays was launched in 2013 . Schools , colleges and young people UKwide have participated in the programme .
Barclays ’ Head of Corporate Banking in Northern Ireland , Adrian Doran said , “ Over the last four years , Barclays ’ staff here have been delivering the LifeSkills programme , with some tremendous feedback and results . However , it has always been our ambition to grow this and extend its reach into the areas we know are in greatest need of this kind of practical , handson support .
“ The new partnership with Business in the
Community means we can scale up to a whole new level . We will provide direct engagement with more than 10,000 young people a year and deliver tried and tested curriculumbased teaching resources to support educators working with students right across Northern Ireland , with a focus on the 20 per cent most deprived communities .”
Through LifeSkills , Barclays ’ employees volunteer in secondary schools and colleges to deliver the programme , which focuses on three core modules : work skills , people skills and money skills .
Young people learn skills such as CV writing , interview techniques , networking , problem solving , creativity , resilience , communication and managing online reputation .
Barclays ’ Adrian Doran is particularly pleased that the new partnership will mean that the LifeSkills programme can now make an impact where it matters most .
He said , “ In an everevolving careers landscape which is increasingly competitive , it is vitally important that all young people are given the same opportunities to gain the core transferable skills that employers are looking for .
“ It ’ s a big pressure : they need not only the academic results , but the skills that we know businesses need now and in the future as technology reshapes our working world .
“ Government , businesses , educators and parents need to work together to improve careers advice and invest in the next generation , raising their confidence and aspirations and building Northern Ireland ’ s talent pipeline .
“ We are very proud that this new partnership with Business in the Community NI is set to make a tangible difference .”
Kieran Harding , Managing Director of Business in the Community NI said , “ This programme aligns directly with our Education and Jobs campaign , seeking to inspire young people and support them to be ready for the world of work .
“ We are delighted to have been appointed as the partner responsible for supporting the delivery of LifeSkills in Northern Ireland , now joining our colleagues in Scotland and Wales , who are already working to deliver the initiative in their regions .
“ LifeSkills supports the creation of a strong talent pipeline of young people moving into the labour market , who can achieve their aspirations , which in turn addresses the significant societal issue of the skills gap and youth unemployment challenges we currently face .”
Postprimary schools can apply for LifeSkills support by contacting angela . mccartney @ bitcni . org . uk , or calling 9046 0606 .
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