Portadown YMCA launches two new programmes to support educational achievement and opportunity

Portadown YMCA is delighted to announce the launch of two new programmes—RAISE PAKT and RAISE ENABLE—as part of the Department of Education’s wider RAISE Programme.

The new initiatives will see Portadown YMCA join schools, community groups and other organisations across Northern Ireland in a collective effort to raise aspirations, improve educational outcomes and ensure children and young people receive the support they need to reach their full potential.

The RAISE Programme is the Department of Education’s signature approach to addressing educational disadvantage. It uses a whole-community, place-based model, recognising that schools, families and community organisations each have an important part to play in helping children and young people succeed.

RAISE PAKT – Parents and Kids Together

RAISE PAKT will work with primary-school children and their families to improve attendance by strengthening the relationship between home, school and the wider community.

The programme will provide practical and personalised support to families who may be experiencing barriers to regular school attendance. Rather than considering attendance in isolation, PAKT will take time to understand each family’s circumstances and work alongside parents, children and schools to identify positive and achievable solutions.

Through family engagement, one-to-one support, group activities and close partnership with participating schools, PAKT will help children build confidence, establish positive routines and feel more connected to their education.

The programme directly responds to the highest-ranked objective within the RAISE Portadown Strategic Area Plan: improving attendance by strengthening links between home, school and community.

RAISE ENABLE – supporting positive post-16 pathways

RAISE ENABLE will support young people as they prepare to make the important transition from school into further education, training or employment.

Working initially with young people from Craigavon Senior High School and St John the Baptist’s College, the programme will provide tailored employability and personal-development support. This will include CV preparation, interview skills, essential skills, recognised qualifications and opportunities to engage with local employers, including organisations such as Almac and Moy Park.

The programme will help young people better understand the options available to them, develop the skills and confidence needed to pursue those opportunities and make informed decisions about their future.

RAISE ENABLE responds directly to the Portadown Strategic Area Plan’s objective of improving pathways for pupils after the age of 16.

Andrew McCreery, CEO of Portadown YMCA, said:

“We are delighted to launch RAISE PAKT and RAISE ENABLE and to join organisations across Northern Ireland in supporting the Department of Education’s ambitious RAISE Programme.

“These programmes allow us to provide meaningful support at two particularly important stages in a young person’s educational journey. Through PAKT, we will work alongside children, parents and schools to address the barriers that can affect attendance. Through ENABLE, we will help young people recognise their strengths, develop practical skills and take their next steps into education, training or employment with greater confidence.

“As a YMCA, we believe that every young person has potential. However, we also recognise that not every child or family begins from the same place or has access to the same opportunities. These programmes are about building strong relationships around children and young people and ensuring they receive the encouragement, opportunities and practical support they need to succeed.

“We look forward to working closely with our local schools, families, employers and community partners to make a lasting difference across Portadown.”

The two programmes build upon Portadown YMCA’s longstanding work with children, young people, families and schools. They reflect the organisation’s commitment to creating a community in which every young person feels supported, valued and able to look towards the future with confidence.

The Department of Education’s RAISE Programme is currently operating across 18 localities in Northern Ireland. Its strategic objectives are to raise achievement, address educational disadvantage and raise aspirations through a whole-community approach to education.