Cobh STEP group Celebrates job successes

Last Thursday marked the end of another very successful STEP Course at the YMCA in Cobh.  The Graduation ceremony took place at 7pm and was attended by the STEP Trainees and their families, YMCA Staff and community representatives.  A large number of parents and trainees thanked the staff for giving them the opportunity to attend the course as they all said it has changed their lives for the better and given them direction for their future. The course was over-subscribed and with limited places available and a busy round of interviews, 12 were selected for the STEP.  This course was one of the most successful to date where most of the trainees either have a job lined up or a place in Further Education. One trainee was awarded an apprenticeship based on his performance on work placement whilst four others have been asked to return to their work placements  at the completion of the course. Three others have been offered study places in the likes of St. Johns College, Stiofain Naofa and the College of Commerce. These outcomes are all the more remarkable given the current economic situation where jobs are hard to come by and in a jobs market where young people under 25 are 4 times more likely to find themselves unemployed than other age groups. On top of these vocational achievements the graduates had also raised nearly €2,000 towards the Haiti Earthquake appeal and for Daffodil day in aid of the Irish Cancer Society. James Bilson, Course Co-ordinator, is delighted with the achievements of the trainees and says it’s due to their hard work, interest and attitude.  He also thanked the staff involved in the course for their diligence and dedication.  The next course will be starting on July 26th and application forms are available from Cobh YMCA (tel. 4814060).  The STEP course is specifically designed for 17-25 year olds who are currently unemployed and who may be without a leaving certificate.

Graduating on the night were (L-R Front row) Trish Burke (ECDL tutor), Kay O’Regan (personal Devt Tutor), Mairead Keating, Aisling Dixon, Damian Brady, Darren McGrath, James Bilson (coordinator).
Back – Tom Kent (national programme coordinator), Irene Mulcahy (Health Promotion), Lee Furmedge, Paul Scannell, Danny O’Hora, Lorcan Barry, Jason Richards. Also Jack Madigan and Chris Roche(not pictured).