The Partnership's objective to improve the labour market prospects of people with disabilities fits with EU labour market objectives, where guidelines have included a section on equal opportunities for people with disabilities since 1998.

These objectives are shared at national level and the National Employment Action Plan for 2003-2005 reaffirms the goal of ‘integrating people with disabilities into the open labour market'. It states that a key way in which this goal will be pursued is through facilitating the progression of people with disabilities into sustainable employment through the development of their skills. Set up in the Northside Partnership area in 2002, the Preparing for Employment programme encourages people who are in receipt of a disability payment to engage in our service.

The training programme consists of group-based work in the morning and one-to-ones in the afternoon. The group-based training provides participants with the confidence and skills required to identify the right career path, and if necessary an appropriate training programme or educational route. The on-to-one sessions give the participants the opportunity to talk with the trainer alone about any issues as they arise.

Upon completion of the programme, all participants are assigned a Mediator. The mediator's role is to continue to encourage them and to help them turn their goals into reality.

Another aspect of the Preparing for Employment programme is enhancing disability awareness among local employers. The Northside Partnership recognises the importance of creating awareness on behalf of people with disabilities with the aim of creating real future career opportunities.

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