Research carried out by both the National Centre for Guidance in Education and the National Co-ordinators of YOUTHREACH, has revealed a real need for guidance, counselling and psychological services for YOUTHREACH trainees:

-	Perceived Needs for Guidance, Counselling and Psychological Services in Youthreach, Community Training Workshops and Senior Traveller Training Centres
-	Reaching Out - The Provision of Guidance & Support Services by Programmes/Projects for Early School Leavers & Young People at Risk in Ireland - Research Report

Based on a similar needs- based model to the community based guidance project, training for tutors working with young people who have left school early in the YOUTHREACH programme, was developed and delivered through higher education institutions - UCC, UCD and St. Angela's College in Sligo.

The training was composed of four basic modules (guidance and support, research skills, working with challenging adolescents and communication skills) and participants received a Certificate in Non-formal Guidance Skills for YOUTHREACH staff. The evaluation of the project proposed that the courses, though successful in delivering their objectives, did not in their existing structure provide sufficient model for national roll-out. 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 covering other areas in addition to non-formal guidance.

The training was developed through the National Centre for Guidance in Education with support from the EMPLOYMENT Youthstart project and the Department of Education and Science.
The final report of the project details its activities, results and evaluation, Training Youthreach Staff in Non-Formal Guidance Skills - Final Report.

For more information contact info@ncge.ie