New Youthreach Coordinator Appointed to Ballyshannon Youthreach Centre

Donegal ETB has appointed a new Coordinator, Paula Burns, to its Ballyshannon Youthreach Centre.

Ballyshannon Youthreach is based in Donegal ETB’s Ballyshannon Further Education and Training (FET) Centre. It is one of the many programmes provided by Donegal ETB’s FET Service.

Before taking up this post, Paula worked as a full-time Resource Person in Navan Youthreach for the previous seventeen years with Louth Meath ETB. A native of Co Fermanagh, she’s delighted with this opportunity to work with young people of her neighbouring Co Donegal.

Speaking about her new appointment, Paula said she was delighted to be taking over the management of one of Donegal ETB’s six Youthreach centres around the county, “I’m really looking forward to building on the good work and strong relationships created by the team in Ballyshannon and hopefully bringing some new perspectives to the programme. Youthreach is an excellent education programme for young people aged 16-20 years who may have struggled with the formal education system prior to joining it.”

Youthreach is the Department of Education and Skills official education, training and work experience programme for young people aged 16–20 years who have left school early or for whom the formal education system has proved difficult. It offers young people the opportunity to gain qualifications and identify options for progression within their lives.

Speaking about Paula’s appointment, Donegal ETB’s Director of FET, Cróna Gallagher said, “I wish Paula every success in her new role. Ballyshannon Youthreach is just one of our many Further Education and Training (FET) programmes across the county and the Ballyshannon centre has an important contribution to make to our FET service delivery.”

Youthreach is co-funded by the Government of Ireland, the European Social Fund and the Youth Employment Initiative as part of the ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020.

Paula took up her appointment on 02 January. Ballyshannon Youthreach can be contacted on 071 98 51286 or through Donegal ETB’s website enquiry form or the Donegal Youthreach Programme’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Image credit: Sandra Buchanan
Paula Burns, Ballyshannon Youthreach Coordinator.