The Rebuilding Civic Society Programme is an initiative of Intercomm and North Belfast Employment Centre (NBEC). It seeks to tackle the high levels of unemployment, deprivation and community division that exist in North Belfast with a programme that provides employment and training and builds capacity of participants to make a difference in their communities. The programme was funded by Belfast Local Strategy Partnership..

The programme ran from February 2005 until May 2006. A total of 11 participants were recruited onto the programme and all completed the employment and training successfully. All of the participants had low qualifications and/or long periods of unemployment. Each participant was placed in a job for one year with employers in the community and private sectors in North Belfast. Each participant also received a tailored training programme to enhance their employability and encourage them to play a more pro-active role within their communities

Each participant was assigned a mentor who, alongside the Programme Manager, provided support and guidance throughout the programme.

All of the participants have reported that the programme has been very successful in terms of building their skills, experience and confidence. All of the participants completed the programme and six have secured full-time employment. The remaining five have just finished their placement and are confident that their job search will be successful.

Participants hosted in City Hall by Deputy Lord Mayor
Pat Convery and (right) the group meet Employment
Minister Angela Smith Hosted by Nigel Dodds MP

Intercomm and NBEC are seeking further funding to deliver the programme on an on-going basis.