Springboard secures £83,000 from The Gallaher Trust to support employment in Ballymena

Pictured are, from left, Lauren McAteer, Trustee at The Gallaher Trust and Caitriona Lennox, Northern Ireland Manager at Springboard UK.

Springboard UK has secured a total of £83,000 in funding from The Gallaher Trust to support people in the Ballymena area into work, following the success of a one-year pilot project.

The initiative, entitled ‘Destination Hospitality – Steps to Employment for Ballymena’, aims to equip participants with essential soft skills, confidence, and employability training to help them secure jobs in the hospitality, tourism, and leisure sectors.

The project has already supported 12 individuals into employment, with 20 people enrolled in training. Over three years, the programme plans to train 45 adults, with 24 progressing into employment.

Caitriona Lennox, Northern Ireland Manager at Springboard UK, said:

“We’re delighted with the progress of the project over the last year and we’re very grateful to The Gallaher Trust as without their support, the project simply wouldn’t be feasible.

“Although Springboard’s work spans across the whole of Northern Ireland, the Trust’s assistance has enabled us to hone in on those in the Ballymena area and we have seen already that it has made a huge difference to those who have engaged with us so far.

“The Destination Hospitality – Steps to Employment project offers participants a series of workshops, aiding their employability skills and covering aspects such as team building, confidence, industry skills, CV writing and interview preparation. Some individuals we have worked with believed that they would never enter the world of work and we’re so proud to say that they not only have achieved this, but they’re thriving in their roles.”

Lauren McAteer, Trustee at The Gallaher Trust, highlighted the wider benefits of the programme:

“Too often, individuals, through no fault of their own, find it difficult to gain the softer skills and thus confidence required when applying for jobs. This has resulted in a very challenging environment for disadvantaged adults. This programme gives people that skillset to take that next step.

“At The Gallaher Trust, we are committed to supporting initiatives that make a tangible difference to individuals and the wider community.

“The hospitality, tourism and leisure sectors are central to the local economy, but they continue to face challenges around the recruitment and retention of skilled staff.

“The success of the Destination Hospitality – Steps to Employment project shows just how transformative targeted training and support can be, not only in helping individuals to secure employment but by providing a much-needed pipeline of future talent.

“We’re very pleased to see the achievements of the project so far and are looking forward to seeing what it can achieve over the next two years.”

The remaining £55,000 of funding will be invested over the next two years to continue building on the programme’s early success.

For more information on The Gallaher Trust and the projects it supports, visit www.thegallahertrust.org.