How a Catholic battling depression and a Protestant with a drug problem crossed the sectarian divide

Stephanie Bell talks to some of the 50 young people who have been helped by a new scheme



29 August 2014

It has taken just six short months for the lives of 50 young people to be transformed through a Government-backed pilot scheme aimed at breaking down religious barriers. For many of the unemployed 18-24-year-olds who took part in the Springboard programme sponsored by the Office of the First and deputy First Ministers (OFMDFM), years of prejudice were broken down as they had the chance for the first time to make friends with people from "the other side".

All of the young people came from disadvantaged backgrounds and started the programme in February with little idea of what their future might hold. That has all changed, too, as they were taught how to recognise their individual strengths, empowering each of them to become active contributors in building a shared and united community.

Headstart is a pilot scheme for the United Youth Programme which is part of the Together: Building a United Community Strategy, which reflects the Northern Ireland Executive's commitment to improving community relations.

The scheme targeted young people who were not in employment, education or training, and a spokesperson for the OFMDFM says: "The aim was to bring together youth from different communities to develop trust, build real relationships and an understanding of people from different backgrounds in a safe learning environment.

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