Expand+The criteria you must meet to access the Youthreach programme depends on whether you apply to a Youthreach centre managed by an Education and Training Board (ETB) or a Community Training Centre.

ETB Youthreach programme

To be eligible for Yout...

Hide-The criteria you must meet to access the Youthreach programme depends on whether you apply to a Youthreach centre managed by an Education and Training Board (ETB) or a Community Training Centre.

ETB Youthreach programme

To be eligible for Youthreach provided by your local ETB, you should be between 15 and 20 years of age. You must be unemployed and an early school leaver without any vocational training and who has not attempted the Leaving Certificate. Some exceptions can be made to this rule, for example if you are a lone parent.

Community Training Centre Youthreach programme

To be eligible for Youthreach provided by your local Community Training Centre, you should be between 16 and 21 years of age. However, young people under the age of 25 who are disadvantaged and unemployed may attend the programme with agreement from SOLAS.

The training on offer varies from centre to centre, often depending on the facilities available. If you have an interest in a particular career, you should look around for a centre offering a suitable course rather than applying automatically to the centre nearest to you.

Expand+Courses are free and trainees aged over 16 receive a weekly allowance. You will get a travel allowance if you have to travel 5 km or more to the centre. You may also qualify for free childcare and a meal allowance - you should check with the centre.
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Hide-Courses are free and trainees aged over 16 receive a weekly allowance. You will get a travel allowance if you have to travel 5 km or more to the centre. You may also qualify for free childcare and a meal allowance - you should check with the centre.

The 2016 weekly allowances are as follows:

Trainee(s) maximum payment per week

16 - 17 years €40
18 years and over €160.00 (with some exceptions)

If you are over 18 years of age and you are currently getting a social welfare payment of more than €160, you will continue to get the higher amount while you are on Youthreach as long as you are eligible. If you were getting a reduced age-related Jobseeker's Allowance (JA) before starting Youthreach any means that were deducted from your JA will also be deducted from your training allowance. This also applies to people getting a reduced age-related basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA).

Expand+Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course, you will be able to:

Use new skills in in one or more areas of:
• Reading
• Writing
• Spelling and handwriting
• Maths
• Computers and other technology

You’ll also be able to:
• Deci...

Hide-Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course, you will be able to:

Use new skills in in one or more areas of:
• Reading
• Writing
• Spelling and handwriting
• Maths
• Computers and other technology

You’ll also be able to:
• Decide what you need to work on in the next course or class you go on to.
• Judge what kind of teaching helps you the most. This might help you decide what you want to do next.
• Work in a group with other adults who are there for the same reasons as you.
• Put into practice what you have learned so that you can be more confident in everyday new situations.

Expand+Programme Aims
This programme aims to offer you:
• The chance to get back into learning and build your skills and confidence in key skills.

• An initial assessment of your key skills in any or all the areas of:

o reading
o writing and spe...

Hide-Programme Aims
This programme aims to offer you:
• The chance to get back into learning and build your skills and confidence in key skills.

• An initial assessment of your key skills in any or all the areas of:

o reading
o writing and spelling
o maths
o computers and other technology.

This assessment is to give you more information on:

• what you can already do, but perhaps aren’t confident in

• what you need to work on to be more confident in everyday or new situations
for work, family or other settings.

• An opportunity to use or practise key skills in everyday life.

• Opportunities to be more confident by using key skills in new or different situations.

• The chance to get ready to start working towards a qualification by working on
the gaps or blocks you might have that hold you back.

• Teaching that is interesting, adult-friendly and that encourages you to learn by
thinking about and discussing your own ideas and opinions.

• Teaching that focusses on what you need for your everyday life.