16th December 2003

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The University of Ulster has teamed up with the Bogside/Brandywell Women’s Group to carry out research into the barriers facing women from disadvantaged areas seeking education, training or employment and the knock on effect on young people growing up in workless households.

The research project will involve interviews with 150 Protestants and Catholics living in three areas of Northern Ireland – two urban and one rural.

“This partnership between the University of Ulster and the Bogside/Brandywell Women’s Group will clearly benefit women’s, youth and community groups, not only in this area, but throughout Northern Ireland,” said Professor Sile O’Connor, who is heading up the two-year research project.

Professor O’Connor, Professor of Social Policy at the School of Policy Studies at Magee campus, said the study will provide, for the first time, evidence on the obstacles faced by women living in disadvantaged areas when they seek education, training or paid employment.

It will also provide evidence on how growing up in a disadvantaged area has impacted on the aspirations and expectations of young people and the extent to which these are linked to the present state of the labour market and historic family unemployment.

The study – “Young people’s aspirations and women reconciling life in and outside the home in Northern Ireland” - will also explore the effect of a parent finding employment or seeking education or training on young people’s educational and employment aspirations and expectations.

Funding for the project was secured by the Bogside/Brandywell Women’s Group as part of the Community Fund’s social research programme. The University has hired a research associate, Goretti Horgan, to undertake the project. Fieldwork on the study is about to begin.

For further information, please contact:

Press Office Department of Communication and Development
Telephone: 028 9036 6178
Email: pressoffice@ulster.ac.uk