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17 November 2006

The report, which was officially launched by the CRC today, investigates social exclusion amongst young adults from interface areas of Belfast, focusing on unemployment as a feature of sectarianism and the ongoing legacy of conflict.

Breaking Down Barriers To Employment

Government must do more to help young people enter employment in Northern Ireland – according to new research launched today.

Breaking Down Barriers:  Sectarianism, Unemployment and the Exclusion of Disadvantaged Young People, was commissioned by the Community Relations Council and carried out by researchers from the University of Ulster.

The report, which was officially launched by the CRC today, investigates social exclusion amongst young adults from interface areas of Belfast, focusing on unemployment as a feature of sectarianism and the ongoing legacy of conflict.

It highlights the 'double penalty' faced by young people living in interface areas of Belfast who not only have to deal with the problems associated with poverty, but also experience the effects of sectarianism, which further exacerbates problems of social exclusion.

“This study was formulated to investigate the exact nature of these problems, and to ascertain ways in which this ongoing cycle might be halted,” explains Professor Owen Hargie, from the University's School of Communication, who is one of the report authors.

“In particular it was designed to examine how young people could overcome the barriers that prevent them achieving full-time employment.”

The researchers interviewed unemployed and employed young people from interface areas of Belfast as well as employers, trade union officials, community group leaders and training providers.

Duncan Morrow, Community Relations Council Chief Executive said:  “This research reinforces the connection between sectarianism and social exclusion and illustrates that building a shared future is most important for the most marginal in our society.”

Key recommendations of the report include:

• Government schemes must take notice of wider societal issue associated with young people, social inclusion and employment and give consideration to how young people can be reached during the school-to-work transitional years.

• Employers should be proactive in seeking applications from across interfaces, particularly by engaging in outreach work. However careful consideration should be paid to the use of 'welcoming statements' as their inclusion may be counterproductive.

• Employers must recognise that sectarianism remains a fixture within Northern Ireland society and its workplaces. It is not a negative reflection, nor a sign of failure on the part of the company's policies and procedures, to acknowledge its existence.

• Policies that exist in the workplace to deal with sectarianism need to be firmly implemented.

• Considered steps will need to be taken to overcome what the researchers term 'Bubble Syndrome', wherein young people are reluctant to leave the protective bubble of their own community especially to engage with those from 'the other side'.

Breaking Down Barriers:  Sectarianism, Unemployment and the Exclusion of Disadvantaged Young People from Northern Ireland Society, by Professor Owen Hargie, Dr David Dickson and Dr Aodheen O'Donnell can be downloaded at: http://www.socsci.ulster.ac.uk/research/comms/communication/report.pdf

This report was commissioned by the Community Relations Council and funded through the European Union Programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland (PEACE II). 

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