A young man in Derry with cerebral palsy has spoken of his worries about losing his current job due to threats of cuts to youth services.
Eamonn Doherty has worked with Derry Youth and Community Workshop since completing his degree last year.
However, this organisation alongside others who provide services and programmes throughout the city is now at risk of closure due to cuts from the European Social Fund.
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Eamonn spoke to MyDerry about the anxieties he and others are facing due to this risk of closure.
He said: "When I finished my degree in May 2021 my next step was getting employment but I knew it would have been a challenge given my disability, so I got in contact with the Engage programme which helps people with disabilities find work best suited to them as an individual and their needs and expectations.
"I completed placement with DYCW and then I got offered a JobStart opportunity with them. They decided to keep me on until March 2023 when DYCW could face closure.
"At the time we thought more funding would come through but it hasn’t so basically I could be back to square one in March of looking for employment, with the added barriers I face."
Eamonn knows better than anyone the added difficulties faced by someone with a disability seeking employment.
He said: "In my opinion from my experiences I think if you’re applying for employment with a disability it’s really difficult, it feels to me like people just see the disability and not the actual person for who they are.
"I think more people with disabilities should be given the chance, I know there are laws for disability regarding employment but sometimes more disabled people should be giving the opportunity to show what they can offer employers."
As well as his own anxieties, Eamonn worries for the friends and colleagues he has worked with in Derry Youth and Community Workshop who are struggling with the potential closure.
He said: "I think this will have a massive impact on staff and clients mental health. The past few years have been tough with covid, lockdowns and restrictions and now we’re faced with this, it just takes the whole buzz and excitement of Christmas away.
"We are already in a cost of living crisis and just gaining employment again will be difficult and all the other employees in DYCW just treat me like everyone else and see me for who I am despite my disability so if I can get other employment it still won’t be the same.
"However, I would like to say thank you to DYCW for giving me this amazing opportunity. Everyone there is amazing and as well as employees I made friends for life."
Earlier this month, a motion was passed unanimously through Derry City and Strabane District Council urging the Education Authority to reverse the cuts that are faced by youth services.
Sinn Fein's Emma McGinley put forward the motion, which said: "Council notes and is alarmed at the cuts proposed by the Education Authority to the Voluntary Youth Sector funding across the North, resulting in a 33% cut across the Derry & Strabane District meaning a complete cut to junior youth services, summer schemes and out reach programmes.
"Council will write urgently to the Education Authority to express our severe concerns on the impacts these cuts will have for youth provision across our district, and the detrimental impact this will have for jobs and services, and demand that this decision is reversed.'
"To all of our youth staff and young people , DCSDC stands with you and we will be writing urgently to EA to demand these cuts are reversed."
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