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Tag: Belfast City Council

Posted on by r.donnelly

We were delighted to celebrate some fabulous Employment Academy Success this week!! Participants from the very first Business Services Employment Academy were recognised at a prestigious event in Belfast City Hall last week, where the Lord Mayor of Belfast personally presented them with their certificates of achievement.

The event was a proud milestone for everyone involved, celebrating not only the individual successes of the participants but also the impact of this brand-new initiative in supporting local people back into meaningful employment

Celebrating at Belfast City Hall

The Business Services Employment Academy is one of the latest additions to Belfast City Council’s expanding Employment Academies programme and was delivered in partnership with People 1st.

The programme was specifically designed to create new opportunities in the city’s professional and business support sectors, helping participants gain the confidence, skills, and qualifications needed to move into employment in roles such as administration, customer service, reception, and wider business support.

Over the course of eight days, participants benefitted from a structured and supportive training journey that included:

  • Five days of classroom training at Belfast City Council’s Adelaide Street site
  • Three days of hands-on work experience within the Council
  • One-to-one mentoring to build confidence, improve job applications, and prepare for interviews
  • Financial support to help cover expenses such as travel

The programme was open to people who had been unemployed or economically inactive for at least six months, or those working fewer than 16 hours per week (including those on zero-hour contracts).

Employment Academy Success- Supporting People Back Into Work

By the end of the Academy, participants had not only developed practical skills and improved their job prospects, but they had also gained valuable insights into what it is like to work within Belfast City Council.

“This is a great opportunity to gain employment with such a prestigious employer within the city. The Academy offers tailored support and mentoring to help individuals return to work and progress in their careers.”

Roberta Patton, Mentor at People 1st

The initiative is also designed to help address recruitment challenges within the sector by creating a pipeline of skilled and motivated individuals ready to take up business support roles across Belfast.

Employment Academies – Building Belfast’s Future Workforce

Belfast City Council’s Employment Academies have become a key driver in connecting local people to training and job opportunities across a wide range of industries.

Each Academy is co-designed with local employers and focuses on:

  • Practical skills – ensuring participants are job-ready
  • Career support – with mentoring, job search assistance, and interview preparation
  • Employer connections – giving insight into industry needs and opportunities
  • Qualification development – helping participants gain relevant training and certifications

The Council has already seen success with previous Academies, including partnerships with major employers such as Stena Line to support careers in the maritime sector. The Business Services Academy is the latest example of how this innovative approach is helping to meet the needs of both employers and job seekers.

A Proud Celebration at City Hall

The celebration event at Belfast City Hall reflected the hard work, dedication, and progress of the participants. It was also a recognition of the value of Employment Academies in transforming lives — opening doors for people who may have struggled to re-enter the workforce and giving them the tools they need to succeed.

Many of those who took part are now better equipped to secure employment in administration, customer service, and business support roles, with the confidence and practical experience to thrive.

Want to take part in a future Academy? and enjoy Employment Academy Success…

To find out more about upcoming Employment Academies, visit the Belfast City Council website or contact us at [email protected].
You can also read more inspiring stories by searching academies in our news feed or also visiting the academies section of our website linked here: https://people-1st.co.uk/programmes/academies/

Posted on by r.donnelly
A group of five people standing outside Belfast City Hall, including the Lord Mayor of Belfast wearing the mayoral chain, posing for a photo to promote the PEACEPLUS programme. Two individuals in the front row hold PEACEPLUS promotional signs with a colourful design featuring the Belfast skyline. The programme supports peace and reconciliation initiatives across Belfast, delivered in partnership with local organisations
Celebrating the PEACEPLUS Programme announcement at Belfast City Hall, with the Lord Mayor of Belfast and Gráinne McBride from People 1st on the far right.

People 1st is thrilled to announce the successful acquisition of funding from the PEACEPLUS Programme to launch the groundbreaking “Employability – Language Up” project in Belfast. This three-year initiative, set to commence in March 2025, aims to empower 816 individuals from minority ethnic backgrounds with essential language skills and cultural integration support.

The “Employability – Language Up” project comprises two interconnected strands:

  • Community Provision of Flexible Language Courses: Offering vocationally-oriented English language classes tailored to participants’ needs.
  • Community Programme of Activities: Providing practical integration experiences and opportunities to apply newly acquired language skills in real-world settings.

PEACEPLUS programme benefits participants.

Key features of the project include:

  • Tailored language courses focusing on vocational and life skills
  • Co-designed community activities promoting cultural exchange
  • Partnerships with local organizations to ensure citywide reach
  • Emphasis on cross-community engagement and peace-building

People 1st will collaborate closely with community stakeholders to implement this ambitious programme. The project aligns with the Belfast PEACEPLUS Local Community Action Plan’s vision of creating a compassionate, inclusive, and sustainable city shared by all its residents.

This project represents a significant step towards fostering inclusivity and economic integration in Belfast. By combining language education with community engagement, we’re creating pathways for participants to fully participate in Belfast’s vibrant society and economy.

Gráinne McBride, Director at People 1st.

For more information about the “Employability – Language Up” project or to get involved, please contact Gráinne McBride [email protected]

This project is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB)

For further information on Belfast PEACEPLUS, visit the council website at http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/peaceplus and SEUPB at https://www.seupb.eu/peaceplus

PEACEPLUS Notes:

  • The Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) is a North South Body with the statutory remit for managing EU Funding programmes within Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland.
  • PEACEPLUS is a cross-border funding programme designed to support peace and prosperity across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland. The total value of PEACEPLUS is €1.14 billion.
  • PEACEPLUS is co-funded by the European Union, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Government of Ireland, and the Northern Ireland Executive.
  • The project forms part of the €17.1m Belfast PEACEPLUS Local Community Action Plan, which is led by Belfast City Council.
Posted on by r.donnelly

We are thrilled to share William and Patrick Magennis’ remarkable success with Belfast City Council Upskilling Academy and People 1st. The brothers have achieved an outstanding milestone in their careers with the support of Belfast City Council’s Upskilling Academy and their employer, Kids Together Belfast.

Success with Belfast City Council Upskilling Academy for Patrick and William Magennis
Twin Brothers Patrick and William Magennis with Brenda (left) People 1st Director and Diane (right), Kids Together Belfast.

William and Patrick, who share a genuine passion for working with children with special needs, embarked on their professional journey as support workers with Kids Together, a local organisation specialising in early years, after-school programmes, youth groups, and adults with complex needs. The Magennis brothers initially completed their Level 3 qualification in Health and Social Care through the Apprenticeships programme with People 1st, all while gaining valuable hands-on experience working alongside the dedicated team at Kids Together.

Journey to success with Belfast City Council Upskilling Academy

When the opportunity arose to participate in the Belfast City Council Upskilling Academy, William and Patrick seized it eagerly. Having advanced from support worker to team leaders in their organisation, they were keen to further their careers in supervisory roles, and the academy provided them with the perfect pathway to achieve this goal

Following their successful completion of the academy and achieving their Level 5 qualification in Health and Social Care, we are thrilled to announce that both of these talented brothers have been promoted to supervisory positions at Kids Together. This is a fantastic opportunity for career progression, not only for William and Patrick, but also for their employer, as they will benefit greatly from this achievement too.

As an organisation and on a personal level we are so proud of William and Patrick and how far they have come. Their commitment to upskilling, with the guidance from People 1st staff, whilst working full time is a credit to them both. Kids Together are very fortunate to have William and Patrick as part of our ever growing team and the skills and knowledge gained from the Level 3 and 5 Health and Social Care have empowered them to become super supervisors and mentors for their teams.

Pamela Hughes, Manager, Kids Together Belfast
Success with Belfast City Council Upskilling Academy for Patrick and William Magennis
Back in 2021 when Patrick and William achieved their Level 3 in Health and Social care with People 1st during the pandemic.

A life-changing career move in the right direction

As Patrick explains, he feels that this training is his real vocation in life as he enjoys it so much and has had a brilliant journey up to this point:

After leaving school, I went to work as a classroom assistant in special needs and found my passion! After completing my Level 3 in Health and Social Care, I was delighted to be able to progress with Belfast City Council and the Up-skilling Academy to gain my Level 5 Management qualification.  I feel that a clear career path has been opened to me by completing this Academy and after up-skilling, I have been able to take on a higher-level management position at Kids Together. Supporting young people with disabilities is extremely rewarding and I want to encourage and support other young males to consider this pathway as a career

Patrick Magennis, Supervisor, Kids Together Belfast

This success with Belfast City Council Upskilling Academy that the brothers have enjoyed has gained them a promotion and will really help propel their career forward with Kids Together Belfast. The support extended by Belfast City Council, at no cost to either participants or employers, underscores its potential to foster professional growth within your organisation, equipping team members with the skills to benefit both the employer and the children under their care. It is a positive initiative for all involved as Councillor Clíodhna Nic Bhranair, Chair of Belfast City Council’s City Growth and Regeneration Committee said: 

It’s fantastic to hear of the success William and Patrick have had after completing our Upskilling Academy. We’re passionate about supporting our residents to develop the skills they need to secure quality employment in the city. We’ve made a commitment in The Belfast Agenda to support inclusive growth by providing free training, enabling people to apply for roles they otherwise wouldn’t be equipped to do. And Belfast’s children are also benefitting – particularly those with Special Education Needs. Congratulations William and Patrick – we wish you every continued success

Councillor Clíodhna Nic Bhranair, Belfast City Council
Belfast City Council Upskilling Academy
Success with the Belfast City Council Upskilling Academy

We extend heartfelt thanks to Belfast City Council and the Kids Together Belfast team for their unwavering support of this incredible and life-changing initiative. Keep an eye out on our social media channels for news of upcoming up-skilling academies, as we anticipate more inspiring success stories like this one!

Congratulations to William and Patrick, and we all wish them the very best on their future pathways! 

If you would like the opportunity for further career success with Belfast City Council Upskilling Academy, like Patrick and William, then please visit the following link to find out what current opportunities are available for further training through the Belfast City Council Employment Academies: https://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/employmentacademies

We have a whole section dedicated to the Academy programmes we offer on our website where you can hear from other past participants: https://people-1st.co.uk/programmes/academies/ . If you would like to find out more about Kids Together Belfast and the incredible service that they offer local families then please visit their facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Kids-Together-Belfast-100064606302711/

Posted on by r.donnelly

Belfast Lord Mayor Councillor Christina Black hosted a celebration event at City Hall today for 52 Belfast residents who have successfully completed the first ever Classroom Assistant Employment Academy with People 1st and the Academy team.

 

Congratulations to all who completed the Classroom Assistant Academy, some of whom are pictured here with Lord Mayor Tina Black

Held over five days, and made possible with funding by the Labour Market Partnership, Belfast City Council’s Classroom Assistant Employment Academy has exceeded all expectations, with 13 academy graduates already securing employment, and the remaining candidates going forward to interview in the coming weeks.

 

 

People 1st Director Brenda Kernaghan (left) Tina Black, Lord Mayor of Belfast

 

Classroom Assistant Academy

 

Academy participants Sophie and Esther with Maria, People 1st

Belfast Lord Mayor Councillor Christina Black explains: “Our Classroom Assistant Academy is helping to meet the demand, that Belfast schools are currently facing, in relation to recruiting entry level teaching support staff. We’re also providing a direct link to a new talent pool of entrants into the education sector, and we are meeting the employers’ supply demands for vacant roles, whilst also supporting our residents to develop the skills they need to secure quality employment within the city’’. 

 

 

from right to left Eamon (LMP) Brenda (People 1st) Gill (BCC) Sinead and Kevin (LMP)

 

Sinead from the Labour Market Partnership congratulating everyone

 

Successful academy graduates from left to right, Meena, Snehal, Jyoti, Manu with Maria in the middle

“In addition to this we’re meeting our Belfast Agenda commitments and supporting inclusive growth by providing free training to enable people to apply for roles they otherwise wouldn’t be equipped to do. Thanks to this new academy, people can enter the labour market, perhaps for the first time, or people who’ve been unemployed for a long time are getting the support they need to re-enter the workplace. Belfast’s children are also benefitting – particularly those with Special Education Needs.’’

With the help of Labour Market Partnership and Belfast City Council funding, those who gain employment will also complete a six-week OCN Level 3 course in ‘Working with Children and Young People with Special Needs’ and have the opportunity to start a NVQ Level 3 in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools this month. These qualifications will help learners to progress from an unqualified classroom assistant position to a qualified role which offers improved terms and conditions, permanent contracts and better pay. 

Brenda Kernaghan, Director of People 1st spoke about how delighted the team is with this first pilot scheme for Belfast City Council residents.

” At People 1st, our overall aim is to help each participant to achieve their employment goals by providing individual tailored support. We work closely with local employers, creating strong industry networks to provide the much-needed employment interventions and to fill local skill shortages and employment gaps “

People 1st has been facilitating academies on behalf of the Council since 2018, in the areas of childcare, playwork & Health & Social care. There are two distinct academy strands: Employment Academies – for those who are unemployed or working 16 hours or less per week and Upskilling Academies – for those who are already working but want to advance in their career by gaining a qualification.

To date the People 1st Academy Team has assisted over 900 council residents to find employment or upskill within their current role.

Whilst speaking with local schools, the challenge of recruiting classroom support staff continually raised its head.The demand for the role of classroom assistants has trebled over the last decade and is set to treble again in the next decade, this is applicable to both mainstream the special needs sector.

Without the support of a classroom assistants many children cannot access the support they need, they and reach their full potential. Classroom Assistants often provide additional literacy and numeracy support and embeds support given by other interventions such as speech therapy, physio and occupational health.

Both Belfast City Council and the Labour Market Parnership are committed to reducing educational inequalities for all children across the city, especially for children with additional needs. Since January this year, 52 participants have participated on the academy, which involves tailored workshops, one to one employment support and mentoring. 14 individuals have secured employed with the remaining candidates are going forward to interview in the coming weeks.

The feedback from the participants and schools has been exceptional and the job outcomes to date is testament that this rapid response model is successful. It is heart-warming to hear individuals relay their appreciation for assisting them to enter the labour market for the first time or helping them return to work and equally as great to hear how rewarding they are finding their jobs and in particular, working with the children.

With the help of Labour Market Partnership and Belfast City Council funding, participants have also been provided with the opportunity to complete a Level 3 Vocational qualification or an OCN NI Level 3 in Working with Children with Special Needs.

All the team have no doubt we will be hearing of some great up-skilling stories over the coming months, some of the participants have mentioned aspirations of teaching, university courses and specialist support services.

We would sincerely like to thank the Economic Development team for always being open to new interventions and responding to the need of the local environment, the Labour Market Partnership team and the Department of Communities for funding this initiative. We would also like to warmly thank the People 1st Academy team who worked so hard in the last two months to oversee this pilot scheme.

We wish the participants all the best for moving forward in their careers and thank them for putting their trust in us and taking the step of moving into employment! This is a massive courageous step and we have no doubt that your journey hasn’t ended here but will continues to flourish!

For information on how to apply for a future Employment Academy, go to www.belfastcity.gov.uk/employmentacademies or also visit the Academies page on our website linked here: https://people-1st.co.uk/programmes/academies/

 

 

Participant Natalie who joined up via Ballybeen Women’s Centre

 

Participants Marta, Sophie and Oyedete with Lord Mayor Tina

 

People 1st Academies team of Michael, Brenda, Maria and Ruth (L-R)

 

Lord Mayor Tina Black making her address to the participants

 

Fantastic Catering supplied by Loaf Belfast

 

Brenda from People 1st congratulating the participants on their success

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