Bridges to Employment – Empowering through Sustainable Career pathways
We are thrilled to share the progress of the Bridges to Employment - Empowering through Sustainable Career Pathways project, a 36-month initiative dedicated to transforming the lives of individuals facing long-term unemployment across Europe, co-funded by the European Union.
In our first BRIDGES newsletter, we share insights from across Europe, highlight inspiring practices, and take you inside the project’s first steps toward more inclusive and sustainable careers: 1st newsletter | EN | BRIDGES
The pilots of Bridges will be based upon previous experiences but integrated with the most suitable elements to address specific local needs emerged, like the integration of persons with disabilities and health issues, younger LTU, women.
The success of the BRIDGES project is rooted in a dynamic partnership of ten public and private organisations from across four European metropolitan areas: Berlin, Bologna, Dublin, and Lower Austria.
The project’s Expected results are to:
- Support 60 to 100 long-term unemployed (LTU) individuals across Ireland, Germany, Austria, and Italy through tailored pre-employment and subsidised employment pathways, with a focus on vulnerable subgroups such as people with disabilities or health issues, women with caregiving responsibilities, and at-risk youth.
- Train 40 employment coaches and 40 company mentors to provide person-centred support before, during, and after job placements.
- Engage 40 to 60 local organisations and employment providers in the design and delivery of inclusive labour market interventions.
Training Opportunities Available
To support jobseekers and enhance employability, the BJC has two training initiatives upcoming and ongoing:
1. 'Invest in Your Future' is a clerical administration programme delivered through Ballymun Job Centre in partnership with City of Dublin FET College Northwest Campus, Jamestown Road (formerly Finglas Training Centre).
The course information is available here: Invest In Your Future - A Clerical Administration Course (Fetch code 508911) Contact Martina Keogh at 087 365 4725 for more information
Starting October 2026, the course is 40 weeks long inclusive of a full-time work placement with a combination of classroom-based learning, group activities, and on-the-job experience
Individuals can apply who are:
aged 18 or over
Currently unemployed and not in full-time education
Registered with Intreo or a Local Employment Service
Motivated to progress into training, education, or employment
2. Ballyrunners (Programme - Ballyrunners) Programme is currently ongoing but accepting new intakes. It runs from April 2026 until October 2026 for more information contact Pat Kavanagh at 018667000
Ballyrunners is an activity-based programme that aims to provide participants with the skills (confidence, motivation, self-esteem and outlook for the future) to successfully apply for education, training and or employment. The main components include Personal Development, Community Involvement and Physical Activity.
This programme also provides the participants with information, guidance on related careers while giving them an appetite and interest to consider moving towards the world of work.
Above all, our participants will have the opportunity to improve not only their social, inter and intrapersonal skills. They will become more cognitively aware of the choices that they make and the impact on them and those in their community.
It targets young people who can be described as “very hard to reach” by mainstream services and whose lifestyle can be characterised as:
Early School Leavers
May have criminal or addiction issues
Lack of interest in obtaining training or education
Far removed from labour market