Horizons Programme

Background to the Project

The Education Authority Youth Service has been tasked by the Department of Education through funding under A Fair Start Action Plan, to deliver under Key Action 5 the – Horizons Leadership Programme. This action is outlined as below:

To deliver a programme which will produce well skilled, qualified, and experienced youth work volunteers. These volunteers starting at the age of 15 years and over will act as role models to the young people they work with to inspire a new generation of young people into volunteering in their communities. Not only will these volunteers be considered role models they will also be appreciated and viewed as a valued member of the youth work team. Receiving regular training and support from full time youth workers to aid their own development and further enhance the quality of service given to young people.

In 2022 the Education Authority developed and implemented the first Horizons programme. Following an evaluation of this programme the Education Authority revised the programme and secured funding for the 2024-2025 period to deliver an additional cohort in partnership with the voluntary and community sector. Consideration has been given based on feedback from the 2024-2025 to provide greater advance planning time, therefore the Education Authority is seeking applications for the programme, subject to being in receipt of a budget in the 2025-2026 period.

Application Funding Submission Information

Application Closing Date:
20th February 2025 by 4pm

Core Programme Objectives

  1. Provide access to accredited programmes for Horizon participants.
  2. Help and support young people who are vulnerable to experience new opportunities through alternative learning methodologies.
  3. To deliver on the Youth Services allocated action within the Department of Education’s ‘A Fair Start’ action plan
  4. Combat educational underachievement by providing services to participants who don’t have access to leadership, community, and volunteer programmes.
  5. Provide career development experiences through social enterprise for young people to better equip them for the labour market.

Programme Information

Application Eligbility and Assessment

Targeted Delivery Areas & Development Plans

Outlined Below are the target delivery areas and recruitment targets for both Statutory and Voluntary delivery. Successful voluntary organisations will be partnered with a local statutory centre based or area-based programme for co-delivery of the horizons project in these targeted areas. Included in the table below is the targeted recruitment of youth participants per programme expected.

*Organisations must be based within the District Electoral Area as part of the essential criteria for this programme

The Education Authority is seeking only one voluntary partner per delivery area noted above through application and assessment to the programme.

Council Area District Electoral Area* Super Output Area (Target Recruitment Areas) Target No. of Statutory Young People Target No. of Voluntary Young People Total Young People
Antrim & Newtownabbey
Three Mile Water
Ballyduff_1 Ballyduff_2 Hawthorne Jordanstown_1 Jordanstown_2 Jordanstown_3 Monkstown_1 Monkstown_2 Mossley_1 Rostulla_2
7
7
14
Armagh Banbridge Craigavon
Craigavon
Bleary_1 Bleary_2 Derrytrasna_1 Derrytrasna_2 Drumgask_1 Drumgask_2 Drumgor_1 Drumgor_2 Kernan_1 Kernan_2 Killycomain
7
7
14
Belfast East
Ormiston
Ballyhackamore_1 Ballyhackamore_2 Belmont_1 Belmont_2 Belmont_3 Cherryvalley_1 Cherryvalley_2 Cherryvalley_3 Gilnahirk Knock_1 Knock_2 Knock_3 Stormont_1 Stormont_2 Stormont_3 Tullycarnet
7
7
14
Belfast North
Oldpark
Ardoyne_1 Ardoyne_2 Ardoyne_3 Ballysillan_1 Ballysillan_2 Ballysillan_3 Cliftonville_1 Cliftonville_2 Cliftonville_3 Crumlin_2_Belfast Legoniel_1 Legoniel_2 New Lodge_1 New Lodge_2 New Lodge_3 Water Works_1 Water Works_2 Water Works_3
7
7
14
Castle
Bellevue_1 Bellevue_2 Bellevue_3 Castleview_1 Castleview_2 Castleview_3 Cavehill_1 Cavehill_2 Cavehill_3 Chichester Park_1 Chichester Park_2 Chichester Park_3 Duncairn_1 Duncairn_2 Fortwilliam_1 Fortwilliam_2
7
7
14
Belfast West
Blackmountain
Andersonstown_1 Andersonstown_2 Andersonstown_3 Beechmount_1 Beechmount_2 Falls Park_1 Falls Park_2 Falls Park_3 Glen Road_1 Glen Road_2 Glen Road_3 Glencolin_1 Glencolin_2 Glencolin_3 Glencolin_4 Upper Springfield_1 Upper Springfield_2 Upper Springfield_3 Whiterock_1 Whiterock_2 Whiterock_3
7
7
14
Colin
Upper Braniel Beechill_3 Collin Glen_2 Collin Glen_3 Derryaghy_1 Derryaghy_2 Dunmurry_1 Dunmurry_2 Kilwee_1 Kilwee_2 Ladybrook_1 Ladybrook_2 Ladybrook_3 Poleglass_1 Poleglass_2 Twinbrook_1 Twinbrook_2
7
7
14
Belfast West & North
Court
Beechmount_3 Clonard_1 Clonard_2 Crumlin_1_Belfast Falls_1 Falls_2 Falls_3 Glencairn_1 Glencairn_2 Highfield_1 Highfield_2 Highfield_3 Legoniel_3 Shankill_1 Shankill_2 Woodvale_1 Woodvale_2 Woodvale_3
7
7
14
Derry and Strabane
The Moor
Beechwood Brandywell Creggan Central_1 Creggan Central_2 Creggan South Crevagh_1 The Diamond Westland
7
7
14
Faughan
Claudy_1 Claudy_2 Eglinton_1 Eglinton_2 Enagh_1_Derry Enagh_2_Derry Holly Mount_1 Holly Mount_2 New Buildings_1 New Buildings_2
7
7
14
Lisburn & Castlereagh
Lisburn North & Lisburn South
Derryaghy_3 Harmony Hill Hilden_1 Hilden_2 Lambeg_1 Lambeg_2 Lisnagarvey Magheralave_1 Magheralave_2 Seymour Hill Wallace Park_1 Wallace Park_2 Ballymacash_1 Ballymacoss_1 Ballymacoss_2 Knockmore_1 Lagan Valley_1 Lagan Valley_2 Old Warren Tonagh
7
7
14
Mid Ulster
Torrent (Coalisland)
Altmore Ardboe Coalisland North Coalisland West and Newmills Killycolpy Stewartstown Washing Bay
7
7
14
Dungannon
Benburb Coalisland South Coolhill Drumglass Killyman Killymeal Moy Moygashel Mullaghmore
7
7
Newry Mourne & Down
Downpatrick
Ardglass_1 Ardglass_2 Audley’s Acre Ballymote Cathedral_1 Cathedral_2 Crossgar_1 Crossgar_2 Killough_1 Quoile_1 Quoile_2 Strangford
7
7
14

Programme Information Workshops

The Education Authority will be hosting information workshops online which are available to sign up for using the links provided below

Workshop

Date

Time

Sign up Link

Option 1

28th January 2025

6pm – 7pm

Click Here

Option 2

31st January 2025 

10am – 11am

Click Here

Online Application and Support Materials