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City for working and learning

Gateway to Choices

  • About Gateway to Choices

    Thanks to funding from the Belfast Labour Market Partnership, we’ve launched our Gateway to Choices service which aims to support Belfast residents who aren’t currently working, but would like to get a job, or return to work. 

    Gateway to Choices provides tailored advice and guidance to help you find the right support you need to progress towards employment, education, or training. The service works closely with relevant health service providers, local community organisations and the NI Careers Service (amongst others) to give you specific help to break down the barriers you may be facing – and which may be stopping you finding the right job or achieving your employment goals.

    Gateway to Choices is a service that anyone living in Belfast can access, as long as they meet certain requirements.

    The service is designed to help people who have been unemployed for six months or more, people who are not yet ready to work and have been referred by a job coach from the Jobs and Benefits Office, people who are of working age, but not receiving benefits and are not currently working, and people who are employed, but want to find a better job, or a job that is more sustainable.

    Gateway to Choices will allow you to take the next step towards work by providing easy-to-access, independent, and quality information and help you make informed decisions about how to find the right help you need at the right time.

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  • Access the service

    You can access the service in a number of ways, including through a large number of outreach centres across the city, as well as by freephone, email or our dedicated app. 

    GEMSNI, who deliver the Gateway to Choices service on our behalf can advise on your closest centre to access help. Use the freephone number or email [email protected] to ask them.

    If you have any problems accessing Gateway to Choices, email [email protected].

    Funding for Gateway to Choices service has been made available by the Department for Communities through Employability NI.

  • G2C outreach

    Get advice to help you access employment and learning support, ongoing access to experienced advisors, one- to-one guidance that meets your needs and information on learning opportunities. Our advisors can help you create a standout CV that opens doors to opportunities. No need to book, just pop in!

    North Belfast

    • Ashton Centre - every Tuesday from 9.30am to 11am at 5 Churchill Street, Belfast, BT15 2BP
    • Castle Community Centre - first Thursday of every month (time to be confirmed) at 30 St Aubyn Street, Belfast BT15 3QF
    • Central Library Job Club (North Belfast Jobs and Benefits Office) – fortnightly from 10 May 2024 from 10am to 12 noon at Belfast Central Library, Royal Avenue, Belfast, BT1 1EA
    • Cliftonville Community Centre - last Friday of every month from 10am to 12 noon at 60-64 Manor Street, Cliftonville Road, Belfast, BT14 6EA
    • Grace Family centre - fortnightly from 15 May 2024 from 1pm to 3pm at 77-95 Alliance Avenue, Belfast, BT14 7PJ
    • People's Kitchen - every Thursday from 1.30pm to 3.30pm at 1 Antrim Road, Belfast, BT15 2BE
    • Wolfhill Centre - fortnightly (time and date to be confirmed) at 148 Ligoniel Road, Belfast, BT14 8DT

    South Belfast

    • GEMS NI – Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4.30pm at 34 Shaftesbury Square, Belfast, BT2 7DB
    • Shaftesbury Square Jobs and Benefits Office – speak with a work coach for details and dates - Conor Building, 107 Great Victoria Street, Belfast, BT2 7AG

    East Belfast

    • East Belfast Mission –  Fortnightly (time and date to be confirmed) from 9.30am to 12 noon at 251 Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 1AF
    • Holywood Road Jobs and Benefits Office – speak with a work coach for details and dates – 106-108 Holywood Road, Belfast, BT4 1JU
    • Knockbreda Jobs and Benefits Office – speak with a work coach for details and dates - Crown Buildings, Upper Knockbreda Road, Belfast, BT8 6SX
    • The Larder - first Tuesday of every month from August 2025 at St Christopher's Church, 70 Mersey Street, BT4 1EY
    • Tullycarnet Library – monthly from 14 August 2024 from 11am to 2pm at Kinross Avenue, Kings Road, Belfast, BT5 7GF

    West Belfast

    • Andersonstown Jobs and Benefits Office – speak with work coach for details and dates - 580a Falls Road, Belfast, BT11 8FX
    • Extern - Farset Hotel – last Monday of every month from 10.30am to 12.30pm at 466 Springfield Road, Belfast, BT12 7DW
    • Falls Road Jobs and Benefits Office – speak with work coach for details and dates - 19 Falls Road, Belfast, BT12 4PH
    • Foodstock Andersonstown – every Friday from 10am to 12.30pm at 150F Andersonstown Road, Belfast, BT11 9BY
    • Shankill Jobs and Benefits Office – speak with a work coach for details and dates - 15-25 Snugville Street, Belfast, BT13 1PP
    • Upper Springfield Development Trust - speak to staff at this venue and they will make a referral, at 689 Springfield Road, Belfast, BT12 7FP
  • Gateway to Choices roadshows

    The roadshow will provide guidance and a chance to explore opportunities to help you take the next step in your career and personal growth. Come along to a roadshow and meet with employers to learn about live job vacancies, free training programmes to boost your skills, expert CV support, free careers advice and access to a wide range of information, advice and guidance for you.

    These sessions are drop in so no need to book. If you need more information contact:

    Email: [email protected]

    Phone: 028 9033 2313

    Roadshows

    Date Time Location
    Friday 13 June 2025 10am to 12 noon Wolfhill Centre, 148 Ligoniel Road, BT14 8DT
    Friday 27 June 2025 10am to 12 noon Belfast Central Library, Royal Avenue, BT1 1EA

    Further roadshows are planned for Tigers Bay, Ulster University and West Belfast. The dates and times are to be confirmed.

  • G2C Wellbeing to Work event

    This is a free drop-in event in 2 Royal Avenue on Wednesday 18 June from 10am to 1pm.

    This event is for people thinking about training or getting back in to employment, who may need some help to take the first steps.

    You can find out about:

    • wellbeing support
    • free training support across various sectors
    • talk to employers about current jobs available
    • employability support
    • benefits advice

    You don't need to book. For more information, contact Gems NI by emailing [email protected] or calling 028 9033 2313.

  • Watch

    Watch this 50-second video with Gateway to Choices client, Mohammed.

    Watch this 1-minute, 22-second video with Gateway to Choices client, Ali.

    Watch this 2-minute, 7-second video with Gateway to Choices client, Annie.

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