To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister (i) what mechanisms exist to link the Sub-Committees on Poverty and Social Inclusion and Children and Young People with the Pathways to Success Strategy; (ii) how these are operating in practice; and (iii) what steps have been taken to ensure that Pathways to Success forms a key part of the Delivering Social Change Programme.

Delivering Social Change is the Executive’s framework to deliver a sustained reduction in poverty and associated issues across all ages and aims to provide an outline framework for future social policy interventions.

The Executive’s Ministerial Sub-Committees on Poverty and Social Inclusion and Children and Young People lead on the Delivering Social Change programme of work. Both Sub-Committees meet once a year and there is also one joint meeting. The Ministerial Sub-Committees are supported by the Delivering Social Change Programme Board and the Delivering Social Change/Atlantic Philanthropies Programme Board.

The Department for Employment and Learning contributes fully to the work of Delivering Social Change and with regard to ministerial and programme board meetings on this matter, provides regular updates on its key activity in support of same, including appropriate updates and information concerning the Pathways to Success Strategy.

Pathways to Success is intended to provide the best chance for some of the most vulnerable young people in our society. The aim is to guide them towards playing a full role in the life of our community and economy, with the skills our region needs for the future.

The Community Family Support Programme, one of the Pathways interventions, reports monthly to the Early Intervention Transformation Programme’s (EITP) Project Board which in turn reports to the Delivering Social Change /Atlantic Philanthropy Programme Board.

The EITP Programme is one of three Delivering Social Change Signature Programmes, announced by the then First Minister and deputy First Minister in September 2014, which are being jointly funded with Atlantic Philanthropies.

The Department for Employment and Learning has also been involved in chairing cross Departmental Groups to develop policy papers on issues such as low skills and disengaged youth.