YOUTHREACH is the principal official response to the needs of unemployed young people, generally aged between 15-20, who left school early having attained less than 5 Ds at Junior cycle level. The Government and the European Social Fund provide financial support under the National Development Plan for Youthreach. It is administered jointly by the Department of Education and Science and FÁS is delivered in 90 YOUTHREACH centres managed by VECs, in 45 Community Training Workshops funded by FÁS and 12 Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform Workshops. These are out-of-school settings in disadvantaged urban and rural communities throughout the country.They cater for 7,000 trainees.

Nationally, one child in ten leaves school with no qualifications and one in five leaves without completing the Leaving Certificate. These young people are at particular risk in the labour market – the unemployment rate is 47.5% for those who enter the labour market with no qualifications, comparedwith 9.6% for those with a Leaving Certificate.

In addition to having left school early, many YOUTHREACH participants have other difficulties. For example, family dysfunctions are reported in over 50% of cases and substance abuse in 25%. There are high levels of literacy problems (35%) and learning needs (25%), poor physical and/or mental health (20%) and offending behaviour (20%). A small proportion (4%) are homeless or in care. Thirty per cent of female participants are lone parents.

In responding to these and other needs, YOUTHREACH offers a flexible and dynamic programme of integrated general education, vocational training and work experience. Courses are full-time and are available on a year round basis. An age-related training allowance is paid to participants.

The main objectives of YOUTHREACH are:

• Personal and social development and increased selfesteem.
• Promoting independence, personal autonomy and a pattern of lifelong learning.
• Integration into further education and training opportunities and the labour market.
• Active citizenship and social inclusion.

YOUTHREACH is a well-established national programme responding to disadvantage in the education and training systems. Mainstream practitioners increasingly acknowledge it as the education and training system's flexible friend. Evaluations repeatedly report that participants highly value their experience on the programme and would recommend it to others. One youngGalway man who left school at 14 puts it thus:

Since leaving YOUTHREACH I have never been out of work and I am currently serving my apprenticeship as a motorbike mechanic. I have always loved motorbikes and it's great to be able to work at something I really like. I still keep in touch with the staff at YOUTHREACH and really appreciate all the opportunities their help and support have given me.

Provision of YOUTHREACH Places

Nationally, one child in ten leaves school with no qualifications and one in five leaves without completing the Leaving Certificate. These young people are at particular risk in the labour market – the unemployment rate is 47.5% for those who enter the labour market with no qualifications, comparedwith 9.6% for those with a Leaving Certificate.

In addition to having left school early, many YOUTHREACH participants have other difficulties. For example, family dysfunctions are reported in over 50% of cases and substance abuse in 25%. There are high levels of literacy problems (35%) and learning needs (25%), poor physical and/or mental health (20%) and offending behaviour (20%). A small proportion (4%) are homeless or in care. Thirty per cent of female participants are lone parents.

In responding to these and other needs, YOUTHREACH offers a flexible and dynamic programme of integrated general education, vocational training and work experience. Courses are full-time and are available on a year round basis. An age-related training allowance is paid to participants.

The main objectives of YOUTHREACH are:

• Personal and social development and increased selfesteem.
• Promoting independence, personal autonomy and a pattern of lifelong learning.
• Integration into further education and training opportunities and the labour market.
• Active citizenship and social inclusion.

YOUTHREACH is a well-established national programme responding to disadvantage in the education and training systems. Mainstream practitioners increasingly acknowledge it as the education and training system's flexible friend. Evaluations repeatedly report that participants highly value their experience on the programme and would recommend it to others. One youngGalway man who left school at 14 puts it thus:

Since leaving YOUTHREACH I have never been out of work and I am currently serving my apprenticeship as a motorbike mechanic. I have always loved motorbikes and it's great to be able to work at something I really like. I still keep in touch with the staff at YOUTHREACH and really appreciate all the opportunities their help and support have given me.