Supporting Pathways to Work

For Black & Minority Ethnic Communities

Brief guide to the services in Donegal providing support for people from Black & Minority Ethnic communities in accessing Pathways to Work:

Including Employment Supports, Education, Work Opportunities, Self-Employment and Employee Rights

ATU is a multi-campus technological university in the west and northwest of Ireland that delivers a rich combination of academic and research excellence, quality of life and opportunity. It offers full-time, part-time, online and work-based learning programmes with a variety of entry routes, including Leaving Certificate, Access Courses, Recognition of Prior Learning, Mature Students (23+), Tertiary Programmes, QQI/PLC, Apprenticeships. ATU provides a range of supports for students from Black and Ethnic minority communities. These include academic writing, maths for higher education, financial supports such as 1916 Bursary, personal supports including career services and sports facilities.  
Additionally, ATU provides a range of customised supports and services to students from Traveller and Roma communities.

Intreo is a single point of contact for the provision of income and employment supports to both jobseekers and employers.  The employment services approach embeds the client at the centre of the process, ensuring that jobseekers are referred to the most appropriate services at each point in time on their job seeking journey. Intreo and Intreo Partners offer an individualised employment service and Employment Services Officers (ESO) engage with jobseekers on a one to one basis to develop a Personal Progression Plan (PPP).  This helps to identify steps the jobseeker will take to support them to progress to sustainable employment. There are a wide range of supports on offer in terms of further education, training, upskilling, work placements as well as programmes like the Work Placement Experience Programme, CE and TUS to support people to obtain employment.

Donegal Intercultural Platform offers various pathways to work supports for Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities, including Travellers and Roma. Their initiatives focus on promoting inclusion and addressing barriers faced by these communities in accessing employment and public services. 

Key supports include:
• Pathways to Inclusion Program: This initiative assists recently arrived individuals in the asylum system, helping them navigate employment opportunities and understand their rights.
• Education and Training: The platform provides English language classes and skills training, essential for enhancing employability.
• Community Engagement: Regular outreach and drop-in services foster connections and provide tailored support to individuals facing discrimination or barriers in the job market.
• Advocacy and Support Services: We offer assistance with visa status, work permits, and welfare, ensuring that community members can access necessary resources.
• Think Equality Donegal: A collaborative project that aimed to empower BME communities by promoting leadership roles and ensuring their voices are heard in decision-making processes.
These efforts collectively aim to create a more inclusive and equitable environment for all communities in Donegal.

Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB) offers a range of supports to help the Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) community in Donegal access pathways to work. Focusing on education and training, 
The ETB provides services that bridge gaps in language, employment skills, and workplace integration.

Key supports include:
      1. Language and Communication: English language classes (ESOL) and communication skills courses help non-native speakers improve their English and gain confidence in professional and social settings.

  1. Job-Seeking and Employment Skills: The Adult Education Guidance Service provides impartial advice on job-seeking skills like CV writing, interview preparation, and career options.
  2. Skills Training and Certification: Individuals can access vocational training in areas such  Animal Care, Art, Business, Childcare, Construction Technology, Health Service Skills, Nursing Studies, Sport and Recreation.  Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) also helps validate foreign qualifications, and apprenticeship programs offer practical work experience.
  1. Educational Pathways: Adult literacy, Further Education (FE), and Post-Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses provide opportunities to upskill or reskill in various sectors.
  2. Digital Skills: Courses in digital literacy and IT training offered by Donegal ETB prepare individuals for technology-driven workplaces.
  3. Workplace Integration: Diversity and inclusion training, along with work experience opportunities, supports individuals in integrating into the Irish workforce.

DLDC provides information, advice and guidance to individuals on their journey towards and into employment. We provide practical support and guidance on seeking employment, starting a business, upskilling, training, progression and personal development.

  • Employment & Self-Employment Supports
    – Job Searching Support – Personalised one-to-one meetings to discuss employment options
    – CV Preparation
    – Online Job Applications – Support with Interview skills, Mock Interviews – Job Matching
  • Self-employment Support
    – One-to-one meetings to discuss your business idea – Start Your Own Business Training
    – Support to complete a business plan & cash flow projections – Guidance for applying for the Back To Work Enterprise Allowance or Short-term Enterprise Allowance scheme to access up to two years of one financial support – Business Development Workshops

  • Life-Long Learning
    – One-to-one meetings to discuss your individual learning and development requirements
    – Access to workshops and training to boost skills and confidence
    – Help to navigate funding options to make learning more accessible. Personalised advice on learning supports and educational opportunities that align with your goal

The Council actively supports Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities through its services and directorates. The Community Development Unit fosters inclusion through resources and initiatives. The Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) collaborates with community organisations to deliver inclusive projects via the Local Economic & Community Plan (LECP).

The Social Inclusion Unit promotes the BME Inclusion Strategy, while the Public Participation Network (PPN) ensures diverse voices engage in local governance. The Culture Division promotes interculturality through a variety of programmes and resources. As part of its Arts Service, they have a dedicated Arts and Cultural Diversity Officer.

The Local Authority Integration Team (LAIT) provides tailored support to International Protection applicants, beneficiaries of temporary or subsidiary protection, and programme refugees through clinics and one-to-one interactions to address specific needs.

The LAIT Team supports individuals to access services including healthcare, welfare entitlements, language development, cultural orientation, entering employment, education, and training to enable them to live independently and fully integrate into the community.

Donegal Travellers Project and DLDC special initiative for Travellers (SIT) programme collaborate in running this programme. The SIT programme consists of one full-time worker and one part-time member of the Traveller community. This programme supports members of the Traveller community in training and employment opportunities in Donegal. DTP’s Roma community development and advocacy worker supports employment and training for members of the Roma community.

Working with a range of partners and key stakeholders Letterkenny Chamber lobbies on behalf of members and provides networking and promotion opportunities for member companies of all sizes and stages of business.  Letterkenny Chamber is open to businesses from start up to the largest employers from any geographical area.  We operate an open-door policy and will happily assist anyone on their business journey whether that is connecting to other businesses or signposting to relevant agencies and organisations. Our approach is always positive and collaborative, we are keen to see every business succeed.  If a business is starting out or wanting to expand, Letterkenny Chamber can help. 

Letterkenny Chamber also operates a Community Employment scheme with a number of sub-sponsors providing employment opportunities for unemployed people. Our scheme has opportunities from time to time and we are open to all who qualify for Community Employment.  The employment includes clerical/reception and other roles outside the Chamber itself.

Inishowen Development Partnership supports individuals to participate in lifelong learning, to progress into employment/self-employment and to improve their soft skills and wellbeing.

Employment Supports

The employment support team offers information, advice and support to help seekers on their employment journey.   We assist clients to focus on their skills, abilities, explore career pathways and to identify and address any barriers they may have.

We offer:

  • One to One Employment Support Appointments & Weekly Drop-In Service
  • Insight into the Employment and Training sector in Inishowen Workshop
  • Job Search Strategies Workshops
  • CV/ Cover Letter Workshops
  • Preparation for Interview Workshop
  • Bespoke Facebook Local Jobs Page – https://www.facebook.com/idpemploymentservices

Self-Employment – Are you interested in setting up your own business?

IDP supports aspiring entrepreneurs with business plan development, mentoring, and advice on funding options.  Supports to include: 

  • One-to-one advice to test your business viability. 
  • The preparation of a Business Plan
  • Assistance to avail of the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEAS) and the Short-Term 

 Enterprise Allowance Scheme (STEA) from the Department of Social Protection.

  • Enterprise Training Package – to equip you with the correct skills and key elements needed to set up your own business. (Start Your Own business Course, Easi Bookkeeping, Social Media for Business etc)
  • Networking opportunities and linking with our INBusiness Initiative
  • Signposting to other Business Support Agencies in the Peninsula and County.

We offer Life-Long Learning supports aimed to empower individuals to continuously develop their knowledge and skills, to enhance their employability and improve their health and wellbeing.

  • The Local Enterprise Office is a government designated, “First Point of Contact” for anyone interested in starting a new business in or expanding an existing business in Donegal (outside the Gaeltacht region)
  • We provide integrated supports for new and established businesses with a primary focus on those employing less than 10 and up to 50 employees.
  • We provide supports across a range of business sectors. 
  • The Local Enterprise Office provides a range of opportunities for entrepreneur training and business learning
  • Our core training offering is a Start Your Own Business Course.
  • Microfinance Ireland (MFI) Loans in partnership with the Local Enterprise Office Network provide loans to small businesses from €2,000 up to €50,000.
This guide has been developed by the BME Supporting Pathways subgroup – an initiative of the Black & Minority Ethnic Inclusion Strategy for Donegal 2021-2026.