Extern
Extern, a community and voluntary organisation, has received a grant from the Homewards Fund in Northern Ireland. The funding will improve employment outcomes for care-experienced young people, by building the capacity of employers to support them effectively. The goal is for 60% of new starters to still be in employment 12 months after starting.
The one-year pilot will see a project coordinator train designated employee mentors within ten participating companies across the public, private, and voluntary sectors, equipping them to provide structured, trauma-informed support to care-experienced young people entering their workforce.
Training will cover adverse childhood experiences, safeguarding, risk management, professional boundaries, and practical use of mentor and young person handbooks developed by Extern. Following training, each employer will receive a 20-week support package involving fortnightly check-in calls, giving mentors ongoing guidance.
The model has emerged directly from gaps identified through Extern’s existing work. It strongly supports the Homewards Northern Ireland Local Action Plan to reduce rates of people Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET).
“We are delighted to be awarded this funding by Homewards, which will enable Extern Northern Ireland to work alongside employers who are creating inclusive employment opportunities for care-experienced young people. This investment will allow us to train and equip in-house workplace mentors with the practical knowledge, confidence and tools needed to provide meaningful support in the workplace, helping young people to build confidence and feel supported at work”
– Emma Purdon,
Director of Services, Extern NI
