Statutory Representative
Central Government

District Manager
Training and Employment Agency

Kathleen Donnelly joined The Bridge Partnership to promote employment and training opportunities in the Banbridge District Council area and to share information on services available from the Department for Employment and Learning. She hopes that The Bridge Partnership will deliver a series of practical solutions to help the residents in the area become more self-sufficient and less dependent on external assistance.

Having commenced her career with the Northern Ireland Civil Service, Kathleen has remained working in the public sector and has gained vast experience in many labour market issues. As a Contract Manager for Action for Community Employment (ACE) between 1985 and 1992, she assisted on many local community and voluntary organisations to create employment opportunities in their local areas. Many of these groups continue to avail of the Worktrack Programme, which has replaced ACE and is being delivered in the Banbridge area by Graham Training on behalf of the Training and Employment Agency.

Since 1992 she has been employed as a District Manager with responsibility for Job Centre Services in the Lurgan, Portadown, Armagh, Newry, Kilkeel and Banbridge areas. Through on-going contact with employers, training organisations, Job Clubs, New Deal consortia and schools in these areas, Kathleen ensures that services being delivered match the needs of customers residing in the District. Chartermark has been awarded to all these Job Centres in recognition of the excellent quality of customer services being provided by them.

Kathleen is also a statutory representative on Craigavon Borough Council’s Local Strategy Partnership, the East Border Regions and a member of the Southern Childcare Partnership.

Married with five children, Kathleen enjoys outdoor pursuits and socialising. She is an active member of the community and supports the local regeneration group, who is developing many projects to improve the local environment.