As part of our ongoing Civic Mission, Queen’s University Belfast remains dedicated to supporting young people in Belfast. In partnership with R-CITY and Foróige, we recently hosted an Information and Advice Session to help young people explore how their qualifications and experiences can shape their future learning and career paths.

Through this partnership, we have developed the Level 4 Certificate in Youth Leadership and Community Action (30 CATS), an accredited qualification that supports young leaders in their personal and professional development. Queen’s is committed to providing graduates of this qualification with a broad understanding of their options, empowering them to make informed decisions about their next steps.

On Monday, 27th January 2025, the inaugural Information and Advice Session took place in the Whitla Hall at Queen’s. This annual event is designed to support young leaders who have completed the award, helping them explore how their qualifications and skills, including the Level 4 Certificate, can shape their future learning and career paths.

Watch highlights

The session featured two key components:

• ‘Building Your Future’ Workshop – Participants identified their aspirations and future plans through engaging, interactive activities, including LEGO exercises. This hands-on approach encouraged creative thinking and self-reflection, helping young people articulate their ambitions. This workshop was expertly facilitated by Deirdre Lynskey and Ciaran McMullan, who are careers professionals at Queen’s.
  
  
• ‘Meet the Experts’ Roundtable – In small groups, participants engaged in discussions with experts from various organisations. Guided prompts at each table facilitated conversations, helping them map out practical steps toward their envisioned future. Representatives from Queen’s University, Ulster University, Belfast Met, The Prince’s Trust, the Department for the Economy, and former R-CITY graduates took part in this part of the evening.

Some participants had the following feedback about the event:

“This session has made me realise I need to follow what I love, and it’s made me even more sure that I want to do a youth work degree.”

“I feel really inspired about my future now and I know I would like to start my own business one day.”

“The event at Queen’s showed me that there are lots of different ways for me to pursue the job I want to do. I’m going to continue to research all the ways of achieving my goal, and I feel much more confident that I can do that.”

This feedback from participants underscored the session’s impact: 100% of attendees found it relevant to their future education and career goals, and 73% felt inspired to explore new opportunities.

This initiative reflects Queen’s University’s commitment to widening participation and ensuring that young people from all backgrounds have the knowledge and resources needed to succeed.