GEMS NI

MEESP provides service to people who do not speak English as their first language supporting them to access employment and training opportunities.

• Download MEESP Briefing, 'What does that mean? I just want a job!' (PDF, 1M)
• Download MEESP Case Study - March 2009 (PDF, 420K)

In 2004 we developed a culturally competent, dedicated advice guidance counselling and mentoring service MEESP (Minority Ethnic Employment Support Programme) which addresses the employment barriers experienced by new and established minority ethnic communities.

By increasing their equality of opportunity to access employment in the local labour market, this supports their participation in social, public and economic life thus engendering good relations and mutual respect between people of different ethnic backgrounds and the majority community, helping to reduce fear and isolation.

The integration and transformation of our knowledge of the  needs of all ethnic communities specifically but not exclusively in relation to their access to the labour market, has supported the development of specific standards, policies, practices (e.g. our participation in the DEL Migrant Worker Strategy), and attitudes used in appropriate cultural settings to increase the quality of services, equality of access and benefit from public services for all ethnic communities in Northern Ireland.

“Stakeholders were very definite in their views that GEMS is providing a much needed service with their MEESP. It was considered that the level of need and demand for such a service is growing and continuing to grow.  If this service was not available there is no equivalent replacement and organisations such as NICEM, NICRAS and MCRC advised that they would try to assist their clients but that this was not their area of expertise and given other constraints they could not fulfil the pre-employment needs of individuals. All organisations consulted agreed that the MEESP adds value to and complements the work that each of the stakeholder organisations is undertaking.  If the service was not available stakeholders advised that the impact would be: Lack of work for the minority ethnic population which will lead to increased poverty and vulnerability in society; people in work that does not meet their needs or fulfil their potential.” (External Evaluation of the MEESP Project; Locus February 2008)

For further information on MEESP, contact Maeve McKeag, MEESP Co-ordinator, by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or phoning 028 9033 2313.