Princely help for rising numbers of young jobless in Mid-Antrim

WITH youth unemployment in Ballymena hitting a record high of 27.2% in February The Prince’s Trust has announced the launch of new Northern Board to spearhead the Charity’s work across the region.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th Apr 2013, 16:19 BST
Pictured at the launch of The Princes Trust North / North West Board are: Back row (l-r) Tony Madden, Nortern Regional College, Edward Montgomery, The Honorable the Irish Society, Michelle Lestas, Chairman of the North/North West Board, Gordon Smyth and Ian Jeffers, Director with The Princes Trust in Northern Ireland. Front row (l-r) Lisa McGeady, Volunteering and Secondments Manager with The Princes Trust, Marilyn Ward, xl Programme Executive, Anne-Marie Doyle, Outreach Executive and Karen Gardiner, MD, Ground Espresso..Pictured at the launch of The Princes Trust North / North West Board are: Back row (l-r) Tony Madden, Nortern Regional College, Edward Montgomery, The Honorable the Irish Society, Michelle Lestas, Chairman of the North/North West Board, Gordon Smyth and Ian Jeffers, Director with The Princes Trust in Northern Ireland. Front row (l-r) Lisa McGeady, Volunteering and Secondments Manager with The Princes Trust, Marilyn Ward, xl Programme Executive, Anne-Marie Doyle, Outreach Executive and Karen Gardiner, MD, Ground Espresso..
Pictured at the launch of The Princes Trust North / North West Board are: Back row (l-r) Tony Madden, Nortern Regional College, Edward Montgomery, The Honorable the Irish Society, Michelle Lestas, Chairman of the North/North West Board, Gordon Smyth and Ian Jeffers, Director with The Princes Trust in Northern Ireland. Front row (l-r) Lisa McGeady, Volunteering and Secondments Manager with The Princes Trust, Marilyn Ward, xl Programme Executive, Anne-Marie Doyle, Outreach Executive and Karen Gardiner, MD, Ground Espresso..

Its aim? To help more than 3,000 unemployed young people to move into sustainable employment and training.

Welcoming new members from the local business community at the inaugural meeting of the new Board, Ian Jeffers, Director of The Prince’s Trust said: “With youth unemployment spiralling out of control in Ballymena and Northern Ireland generally we need to work more creatively with the business community to find ways to support our young people to escape the unemployment trap before it is too late.

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“I believe that the local business community has a key role to play in helping our young people to get the skills and experience needed to turn their lives around. That’s why I want pay tribute to our new Northern and North West Board. They have shown true leadership and I have no doubt that their combined local knowledge, skills and inspiration will make a huge difference to the work of The Prince’s Trust with young people in Ballymena over the number of years.”

Taking up her new role as Chair of the new Prince’s Trust Northern Board, Michelle Lestas, Director, Lestas Consulting said, “This area is increasingly feeling the effects of the recession. Unemployment is high and opportunities for employment are very restricted.

“The work of The Prince’s Trust is therefore vital in securing experience for our young people. I’m delighted to take up this position of Chairing the local Board and I look forward to working in Partnership with a number of our local organisations and businesses for the development of our young people.”

The Prince’s Trust also welcomes to the Northern and North West Board, Edward Montgomery, The Honourable The Irish Society, David Hamilton, Managing Director, Martin and Hamilton Construction, Gordon Smyth, retired Bank Manager, Gwyneth Mc Quiston, Manager, The Diamond Centre, Coleraine and Karen Gardiner, MD, Ground Espresso Bars.

Related topics:Ballymena