Over to YOUth is a three-year programme, funded through the EU's PEACE PLUS programme, that supports young people across Northern Ireland - and into the border counties - to develop practical skills, gain accredited qualifications, and build positive relationships across community divides.
Led by Extern in partnership with five local organisations, the programme combines one-to-one key working, group work, and experiential learning to help young people move forward with confidence.
Who the programme is for
Over to YOUth is designed for young people who face significant barriers to opportunity - including those who have had limited chances to take part in cross-community or peacebuilding activities, and who may be disengaged from mainstream services.
Each cohort brings together young people from Protestant, Unionist and Loyalist (PUL) and Catholic, Nationalist and Republican (CRN) backgrounds, alongside proportionate representation from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities, to learn and grow together.
What participants gain
Over the course of a 26-week journey, each young person works towards:
- 250 hours of structured participation, supported by a dedicated Key Worker
- Nationally recognised qualifications at OCN Entry Level 1, 2 and 3 (and Level 1 or 2 where appropriate)
- Peer mentoring support, delivered by young people with lived experience who have themselves been supported by Extern
- Access to counselling, provided throughout the programme by Lighthouse
- Residential learning experiences at Extern's purpose-built Youth Villages in Roscor, Co. Fermanagh and Kinnahalla, Co. Down
Through group work exploring good relations, personal development and citizenship, young people build trust within their own communities and beyond them - learning to recognise and challenge stereotypes, and developing the confidence to engage across traditional divides.
