Background

In 2003 the Youth Education Social Inclusion Partnership (YESIP) identified the need for the "Management and Delivery of Area Based Strategies under Measure 2.2 of the EU Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation".

8 local Area Based Strategies were funded through this initiative one of which was the YouthAction Northern Ireland Newry and Armagh project. YESIP supported these strategic initiatives focusing on young people and 3 main themes - educational achievement, employability and reconciliation for young people aged between 13-25 years.

This initiative was further developed by YouthAction Northern Ireland to incorporate the Newry and Mourne District Council area from 2006 to 2009.

YouthAction Northern Ireland has embedded 5 key elements in its investment in Area Based Youth Work Strategies:

• Make the scope and focus of the partnership manageable
• Pay attention to the process of relationship building
• Clarify roles and responsibilities
• Leadership style is critical to communication, commitment and consensus
• Prepare for the challenges ahead