The Derry~Londonderry Social Investment Fund (SIF) Zone Steering Group which comprises the Council area of Derry~Londonderry identified the Community Work Programme (CWP) as one of its strategic priorities.

SIF is aimed at tackling the systemic issues linked to poverty and deprivation, building pathways to employment, increasing community based services and addressing dereliction and promoting investment in the physical regeneration of deprived communities.

The programme will be directed at young people aged 16-24 not in education, training and employment, and adults who are long term unemployed or economically inactive who are disengaged from the labour market, with few or no qualifications and who may have additional barriers to accessing and remaining in employment. A minimum of 80 % of eligible participants must reside within the top 10 % most disadvantaged Super Output Areas as per Multiple Deprivation within the Derry City Council (DCC) area and top 20 % most deprived in one or more eligible domains of income, employment, education and health.