Sir Reg discusses employability in north Belfast

Employment Minister Sir Reg Empey, today visited the Ashton Centre to learn more about initiatives which help people in North Belfast find employment.

The Ashton Centre is a community based facility which is actively engaged with the local community in the delivery of services aimed at economic and social regeneration of the local area. These include employment outreach, education and training, social economic businesses, community empowerment and childcare.

Earlier this year the Department for Employment and Learning appointed the Ashton Centre to deliver the new Local Employment Intermediary Service (LEMIS) in North Belfast. This service provides tailored assistance to help people overcome personal barriers that are preventing them from finding employment and keeping a job. It is designed to help and support those who, for whatever reason, are not presently using the statutory job finding services. Therefore LEMIS complements the existing JobCentre facilities.

The Minister said: “My department is dedicated to helping people find and retain work. We specifically target those in areas of most need and I am delighted to see that here we are working together with the Ashton Centre on a range of areas affecting the local community, such as employment, health, education and social needs. I have also been impressed by the staff who are clearly dedicated to implementing employment schemes which help to serve the needs of the local community.”

The Minister welcomed the positive change that the Ashton Centre was making in improving the quality of life of the North Belfast community through its commitment to complement the work of the statutory agencies in addressing the employability needs of the long term unemployed.

Notes to Editors:

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