Since 1998, Newry and Mourne Carers have been engaged in transnational projects involving partners from France and the Republic of Ireland.

APSAJ, a community development agency in Dijon, France, and Ballymun Women's Centre from Dublin, worked with us on a project examining the most effective ways of helping people re-enter the employment market. In our case, we were particularly interest in those who had been carers, and we discovered what skills and qualifications best prepared people for work after caring.

The three organisations developed new models of working with individuals and developed flexible, tailored training packages that fitted with the other priorities in the lives of those we worked with.

Having successfully completed this project, we are now seeking support from the European Union for a new joint project with partners in Germany and Portugal.