Project helps improve life chances for young people

Junior Minister Gerry Kelly and Junior Minister Robin Newton have praised a Belfast project which has helped improve life chances for children and young people.

The Colin Integrated Development Fund, an OFMDFM initiative, aims to tackle poverty and social exclusioin by addressing the needs of children and young people to ensure that every child has the best start in life.

Junior Minister Kelly said: "Children and young people who experience poverty or social exclusion can be vulnerable in a number of different ways. They are at risk of poor health, poor educational outcomes, and in adulthood are more likely to be low paid or unemployed.

"Their skills levels are likely to be lower than their more affluent peers; they are likely to have lower expectations about what life has to offer, and to set limits on what they can achieve in life.

"Projects like this help break the cycle of poverty and social exclusion. This work provides a focus on the rights and needs of children and young people."

Junior Minister Newton said: "The Colin project set out to address the needs of children and young people, to reduce underachievement and improve the life chances of children and young people.

"This project has made a positive contribution to building the capacity of teaching staff and parents to support the current and future needs of young people. It has also contributed to removing barriers to learning, building capacity and improving outcomes for children, families, communities and support services."

The Minister concluded: "I believe that this project has been making a real and significant difference to the lives of pupils and families in the Colin area."

The evaluation report of the three year project prepared by BDO Consultancy highlighted the successes of the programme which has been operating in the Colin Glen area of Belfast. Eleven schools were involved in the Project, including seven primary schools and four nursery schools.

Notes to editors:

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