AQW 43527/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 31/03/2026
Answered On Date: 09/04/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail the specific activities of the Education Authority FLARE project.

Answer:

The FLARE project operated as a communitybased emotional health and wellbeing programme delivered by professionally qualified youth workers within generic JNC youth work roles. The programme provided early support, confidencebuilding, wellbeing activities, positive peer culture and appropriate signposting for children and young people.

In line the Education Authority’s (EA) Regional Youth Development Plan, the FLARE Team no longer operates as a discrete programme and work has been mainstreamed across statutory youth services.

Youth workers across all localities now deliver universal provision, including safe spaces, openaccess programmes and positive peer culture, together with earlyintervention support, such as onetoone guidance, targeted group work and early identification of need. The EA continues to provide training and capacitybuilding to fulltime youth workers, parttime staff and volunteers through the Partnership and Practice Development Unit, ensuring consistent delivery of emotional wellbeing support across the service.