Local men learn job skills with Restore

Cllr Marie Hamilton, Chair of Banbridge District Council and Kate Carroll, Founding Director of the Steve Carroll Foundation presented certificates to participants in the Old Town Hall.

Ten young men were successful in achieving an OCN Certificate in Labour Mobility and Good Relations, which aims to develop skills which improve opportunities in their search for jobs.

Working in partnership, PEACE III Southern Partnerships Engaging in Good Relations (EGR) Team and Restore provided the training opportunity to complement the work of the Project.

The Engaging in Good Relations Team referred to the comments made by Mike Tomlinson in his latest report about the links between deprivation and conflict. He said in his report that “Dealing with the past needs to include tackling the deprivation of those whose lives are most blighted by the years of conflict.”

Engaging in Good Relations feel that working in partnership with Restore provided them the opportunity to connect those who do not normally see their link to the peace process but whose lives have been impacted by the conflict.

Welcoming everyone to the event, Cllr Marie Hamilton, who also sits on the PEACE III Southern Partnership Committee, congratulated participants on their achievement: “It is important that we all take responsibility for making our community a peaceful and safe place to live and the Steve Carroll Foundation is aiming to do just that. Banbridge District Council is delighted that these young men have achieved this accreditation to add to the valuable work already being achieved through the Restore Project.”

Kate Carroll added: “One of the aims of the Steve Carroll Foundation is to identify and reward Peace Champions to work on promoting peace building in the local community and I hope to see some of these young men achieve this in the future.”