Eamonn Doherty losing his youth job over funding cuts

A youth worker with Cerebral Palsy has been expressed his sadness that he is to lose his job this week in Derry as a result of huge cuts to youth services in the city and across the North of Ireland.

Money from the European Social Fund (ESF) comes to an end this Friday, March 31, due to Brexit.

About £40m a year of money from the ESF will no longer be available.

This money was 35% match-funded from Stormont, giving £54m in total.

The warning about funding was sounded in 2019 but nothing has been done by politicians to find alternative funding stream.

The British Government said on Monday it is working to finalise a financial package under its ‘Shared Prosperity Fund’ (SPF) to help charities in the North of Ireland facing a funding crisis.

But the package may come too late for Eamonn Doherty who will lose his job with Derry Youth and Community Workshop (DYCW) come close of business this Friday.

Budding actor Eamonn, who had a cameo role in series three of the hit Channel 4 comedy Derry Girls, has now been left despondent about his future.

The 23-year-old told Derry Daily: “Whenever I finished my degree in 2021 my next step was getting employment. Given my Cerebral Palsy I knew getting a job was going to be a challenge and a challenge I needed help to overcome so someone I know recommended the Engage programme.

“I got in contact with them via email and Michelle McClafferty who is the programme’s coordinator got back to me with an appointment to come up for a chat.

“I went up a week or two later accompanied by my friend Sean McGlinchey. At the appointment we discussed jobs that would be suitable for me and my disability.

“We decided a computer based job would be best so after a few appointments of a applying for jobs I was just kept not getting those jobs so Michelle thought it would be a good idea to put me on work placement with her on the Engage programme.

“Here I was doing a admin role etc social media and data entry work, this placement was for 12 weeks if I remember correctly.

“After my placement was completed DYCW decided to employ me under the JobStart Scheme which was 9 months. When this was finished they extended my employment until March 2023.

“The ESF Funding is running out this Friday, March 31. DYCW has fought for funding to try to keep as many jobs and programmes as possible but sadly this hasn’t been achieved.

“At the moment nobody’s job is safe and the place will close this Friday unless a miracle happens and Stormount gets up and running again which I highly doubt.

“I do want to say to local employers if you have a job position and if someone applies for it who has a disability please consider them.

“Obviously it depends what the job is and what qualifications you need but definitely more disabled people need a chance to show what they can offer in a workplace,” added Eamonn.

Tags: