A successful cross-community pilot project launched by Choice in conjunction with the Rio Ferdinand Foundation is being expanded to support young people in Ballymena
The initiative will provide young people across Ballymena with the opportunity to develop new skills and take the lead in creating opportunities for their local communities.
In partnership with Ballymena United Womens Academy, the project launched with 28 participants aged between 13-17 years old taking part in a series of workshops over the next several months. The first workshop focused on Challenging racism, division, and discrimination facilitating discussions between the young participants on the impact of these issues and how these are dealt with in their own communities.
Last week, the theme of women’s empowerment was explored with creative workshops between young women who shared experiences of how they contribute to their local communities and the importance of areas such as managing stress and developing vital leadership skills.
Further workshops will be delivered during the summer, exploring themes of mental health and wellbeing, impact of sport on wellbeing and the delivery of OCN Level 1 accreditations.
The partnership will also provide the opportunity for young participants to get to know their peers, take part in a range of activities and team building exercises, all aimed at building foundations for young people to grow and develop.
Discussing the partnership with the Rio Ferdinand Foundation, Choice Group CEO, Michael McDonnell said,
“Expanding to Ballymena is testament to the impact this partnership has had in other areas in the region. Tangible support for young people, who not only develop a range of social and personal skills but come out of the initiative with training and accreditations that will support them in the next phase of their journey.
“Choice is committed to supporting local communities across Northern Ireland and a vital part of this is supporting the next generation in these communities – giving them the tools to create their own pathway.”
The Rio Ferdinand Foundation was set-up by ex-Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand and has worked across Northern Ireland since 2016, providing mentoring and employment pathways to help young people in economically deprived communities.
The partnership with Choice has gone from strength to strength, with programme hubs in Derry/Londonderry, Belfast and now Ballymena. Over the last twelve months, for example, the partnership has delivered personal development workshops and accredited training to close to 200 young people and brought more than 900 community members together across a range of events and youth social action initiatives.
Darryl Forsythe, Northern Ireland Programme Coordinator of the Rio Ferdinand Foundation said,
“Expanding into Ballymena has been a fantastic opportunity for the Rio Ferdinand Foundation. Working with young women at Ballymena United Academy, we’ve delivered workshops that not only educate but empower.
“Our mission is rooted in tackling social issues while opening doors for personal growth. It’s vital that young people are given a voice — but just as important, that we equip them with the tools to become the next generation of leaders, with social mobility at the heart of that journey.”
Participants will also lead on and host a youth-led football event that will bring the local community together, providing them with the opportunity to demonstrate the skills they learned during the project but also to communicate the impact the project has had on their lives through sharing their individual journeys.
Caption: Darryl Forsythe and Sarah Millar from the Rio Ferdinand Foundation (RFF) pictured with participants Lilee-Grace Gourley (left) and Caoimhe Morrow (right).
