STRYVE is a unique programme that will inspire, up-skill and prepare you for the jobs of the future. We help you gain leadership and creative media qualifications, receive training in creative problem solving, design thinking and entrepreneurship, alongside providing tailored work experience with a path to employment.
Let us help you take your place, set yourself apart, develop your skills, grow your confidence, build your network and take control of your future!
Young people aged 16-25
23 spaces available
Cohort 2 will take place from February – November 2024
We will have two groups: One based in Derry~Londonderry and one based in Belfast
The programme will take place in 3 phases from February – November 2024:
Innovation Skills and Entrepreneurship training
OCN Qualifications delivered in partnership with Rio Ferdinand Foundation
• OCN Level 2 qualifications in Creative & Digital Media, Leadership & Internet Safety
Work Placement
• Work Placement in an innovation driven business (2 days per week paid placement at National Living Wage for 12 weeks)
Applications open: 16 January
Derry~Londonderry group: 13th February
Belfast group: 14th February
STRYVE is an inclusive innovation programme for young people aged 16-25 in Belfast and Derry~Londonderry. Young people will gain skills, qualifications, and experience in creative & digital media, innovation, and entrepreneurship, and will have the opportunity to participate in a paid work placement.
Funded by the International Fund for Ireland and delivered in partnership with the Rio Ferdinand Foundation, Catalyst will lead a consortium supporting young people to develop their skills, innovative thinking, and creative solutions, and remove barriers to employment and entrepreneurial pathways.
The 2-year partnership is led by a strategic reference group including the Rio Ferdinand Foundation, Department of Justice, Department for the Economy, Belfast City Council, Derry City and Strabane District Council, the Education Authority, International Fund for Ireland, Rural Action and multiple youth organisations across Belfast and Derry~Londonderry.
This collaborative project is for young people aged 16-25 years seeking to gain skills, qualifications, and experience that will provide them with a pathway towards employment.
16-25-year-olds who are vulnerable to polarisation and come from complex backgrounds including those who:
Please note this is not an exhaustive, tick list for those eligible to apply but rather gives an idea of the general profile of young person who this programme would be most relevant for
Cohort 2 will take place February – November 2024
We will have two groups:
One based in Derry~Londonderry and one based in Belfast
The programme will take place in 3 phases from February – November 2024:
Innovation Skills and Entrepreneurship training
OCN Qualifications delivered in partnership with Rio Ferdinand Foundation
• OCN Level 2 qualifications in Creative & Digital Media, Leadership & Internet Safety
Work Placement
• Work Placement in an innovation driven business (2 days per week paid placement at National Living Wage for 12 weeks)
Applications open: 16 January
Derry~Londonderry group: 13th February
Belfast group: 14th February
We would love to invite you along to one of our Discovery sessions to find out more about the STRYVE programme and Catalyst!
We will be holding discovery sessions at:
Book a time for the STRYVE team to come along to your venue and run an interactive 30-minute session with your young people all about the STRYVE programme!
Sessions can be booked between the 15th January – 2nd February 2024.
Alongside the Stryve Programme for young people we also have a youth leader development programme that has been designed for YOU!
When youth organisations and their staff develop skills and mindsets of innovation, and see themselves as leaders of inclusive innovation in their daily practice, they are more able to solve relevant challenges ripe for new solutions and support the young people they serve as those young people develop the skills and mindsets that will help prepare them for pathways to work.
The STRYVE Youth Leader Development Programme offers a highly interactive, collaborative, and personalised programme of adult learning, design, and action. Through this programme, teams of leaders from organisations that work with youth will come together over a period of six months to develop skills and mindsets of innovation and see themselves as leaders of inclusive innovation.
This programme will take place across 6 months from March-August 2024
An Inclusive Innovation programme for young people aged 16-25 in Belfast and Derry~Londonderry. Young people will gain skills, qualifications, and experience in creative & digital media, innovation, and entrepreneurship, and will have the opportunity to participate in a paid work placement.
The programme is funded by the International Fund for Ireland, and Catalyst will lead a consortium supporting young people to develop their skills, innovative thinking, and creative solutions, and remove barriers to employment and entrepreneurial pathways.
The 2-year partnership is led by a strategic reference group including the Rio Ferdinand Foundation, Department of Justice, Department for the Economy, Belfast City council, Derry City and Strabane District Council, The Education Authority, International Fund for Ireland, Rural Action and multiple youth organisations across Belfast and Derry~Londonderry.
With talent shortages as prevalent as ever, companies are having to re-examine how they recruit, develop, and retain their workforce.
Catalyst is seeking companies just like yours to help us develop pathways for young people who have never felt that they belong in the innovation economy, not just because it is the right thing to do, but because this expanded focus can unlock new talent pools for companies and bring increased diversity to entrepreneurship.
Young people aged 16-25 years seeking to gain skills, qualifications and experience that will provide them with a pathway towards employment.
Provide a 12 week, 2 days per week, paid work placement* for a young person(s) on the STRYVE programme.
We are seeking to partner with forward thinking companies who understand the need to create new pathways to employment for our young people:
If you are interested in learning more about our project and how your company might support offering a 3-month paid placement to applicants, please register your interest for more information.
*Catalyst covers all cost associated
Director of Strategic Business Development
Adrian Johnston joined Catalyst in January 2022 as Director of Strategic Business Development. Prior to this he was Head of Digital Catapult NI supporting businesses and the public sector to adopt emerging digital technologies. He also has 20 years technology leadership experience having previously worked for Seagate Technology in their Springtown facility heading the Data Science and Analytics team.
Adrian holds a PhD in Informatics / AI and is a member of the Open Data Institute. He leads the Open Innovation Team at Catalyst which stimulates research collaborations and provides companies with the support, expertise and community to innovate.
In 2019 Adrian was awarded the Ulster University Graduate of the year and received an MBE for services to peace-building and the community in NI. Adrian is passionate about Inclusive Innovation and is the current Chair of the Community Foundation for NI.
Programme Manager – Youth and Ambition
Project Coordinator - Generation Innovation
Mark is the Project Coordinator supporting the Generation Innovation team. He supports the team in all of their events, mainly in its workshops, Impact Days and Work Experience events.
He also a member of Catalyst’s Inclusive Innovation team supporting young people, youth workers and events.
Mark has over 10 years of working with young people. He has a degree in Youth Work and Practical Theology. Mark loves working along side young people and seeing them being released into their true potential.
Project Administrator - Open Innovation
Project Administrator - Open Innovation
Emma is the Project Administrator in the Open Innovation team at Catalyst.
Currently Emma is working on the Inclusive Innovation Skills Programme designed to help young people develop life skills to fulfil their potential.
Emma studied at St Mary’s University College Belfast where she earned a BA degree in Business Studies. She is passionate about inspiring young people to fulfil their potential and has various certificates on mental health and wellbeing in young people including a life coaching and mindfulness Diploma.
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