16 July 2003
PARTNERSHIPS KEY TO TACKLING UNEMPLOYMENT IN NORTH WEST
Recent job losses in the north west make co-ordinating the response by government, education providers and the local community essential, according to Jane Kennedy, Minister for Employment and Learning.
The Minister’s comments followed a visit to the new Learning Resource Centre at Magee College and later when she joined members of the ACCORD community partnership group in the Waterside district of the City.
Arriving at the newly opened Learning Resource Centre on the Magee College Campus, the Minister was welcomed by Professor Tom Fraser, Provost at Magee and Professor Gerry McKenna, Vice Chancellor and President of the College.
During a tour of the futuristic complex, the Minister saw the impressive study areas, IT suites and the latest library provision with 80,000 volumes housed on the ground and first floors. Jane Kennedy also heard how the design of the new complex included a purpose-built environmentally controlled Rare Books Room to house the College’s valuable collection of literary works.
Stopping to sign the visitors’ book, the Minister was shown an entry from Florence Nightingale in 1867 when she visited the College on her way to holiday with a friend in Co. Donegal.
Following a business lunch with senior staff at the College, Jane Kennedy joined member of the ACCORD community partnership for a meeting to discuss progress at the Waterside Development Group’s Headquarters on Spencer Road.
Met by ACCORD Project Leader, Helen Sayers, the Minister was introduced to representatives of the 17 cross-community partnership groups involved in training provision for marginalised people in the area and heard of the efforts being made to tackle social deprivation and low educational attainment.
Commenting on her visits to Magee and the ACCORD community group, Jane Kennedy said:
"The sheer diversity of effort I have seen today is most impressive and involves positive and productive partnerships between government agencies, educators, local people and their political representatives in tackling unemployment and creating opportunities for those who most need them.
"I am aware of the disappointing job losses in the area during recent months. Those losses have occurred not only in the textile trade but also in the retail sector. In such situations my immediate concern is provide practical help and support for those involved. Staff in my Department will continue to work closely with the companies and redundant workers involved providing advice and guidance, alternative job opportunities and where necessary training courses."
Earlier, Jane Kennedy visited the Foyle Jobs and Benefits Office and later will attend the joint official opening ceremony of Foyle and Lisnagelvin offices at the Lisnagelvin site.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- The ACCORD project is an area partnership of training providers to address the specific needs of marginalised groups in order to break the cycle of low educational attainment and inter-generational unemployment. It is funded by the European EQUAL Programme for NI.
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