Community Based Guidance Assistance
Research has shown that one of the key influences on young people outside the mainstream system are 'significant adults' within the community -parents, youthworkers, sports coaches, neighbours, siblings etc. For young people outside the mainstream education system, these significant adults may be the only source of guidance provision. Between 1995 and 1998, a course to meet the needs of these 'significant adults' was developed through participant needs analysis, ongoing review and consultation. The Certificate in Non-formal Guidance Skills, is now running in its fifth year in Cork, provided and accredited through University College Cork. The course had the double benefit of both improving access to guidance provision and educational and labour market activities for the ultimate target group - young people outside the formal education system, but also acts as a re-entry route to education for the intermediaries - adults in the community, who may have been educationally disadvantaged themselves (more information).

Training YOUTHREACH Staff in Non-Formal Guidance Skills
The learning from the above project also informed another European funded project which focussed on training Youthreach staff in non-formal guidance and counselling skills. Based on a similar needs- based model, training for tutors working with young people who have left school early in the YOUTHREACH programme, was developed and delivered through higher education institutions (more information). The evaluation by participants revealed a bigger gap in training, than that which the Non-formal guidance course could fill. Rather it was recommended that the courses should be enveloped in a broader based induction module for tutors working in YOUTHREACH. It is important to note that pilot projects will not always be successful - they are 'pilots'. There is no guarantee of an outcome with potential for replication. However, valuable lessons can be learnt for future initiatives and policy development from all 'pilot projects'.