Mayor teams up with Labour Market Partnership to provide free road marshal training
20 August 2025
Residents across the Derry City and Strabane District Council area are being urged to take advantage of a free accredited training programme to become qualified Road Marshals.
The initiative, a collaboration between Derry City and Strabane District Council Mayor’s Office and the Labour Market Partnership, is designed to build capacity across the region and support the safe and successful hosting of local events such as fun runs, festivals, and community events across the Council area.
The comprehensive training will equip participants with the essential skills and knowledge needed to manage traffic safely at road-based events, ensuring the well-being of both participants and the public. The programme is offered at no cost to attendees, thanks to funding contributed by both the Mayor’s Office and the Derry and Strabane Labour Market Partnership.
Funded by the DfC, Labour Market Partnerships (LMP) create targeted employment action plans for council areas, allowing for collaboration at local and regional level to support people towards and into work.
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Cllr Ruairí McHugh said: "I am delighted to contribute some funding to this fantastic initiative, aimed at helping to build capacity within our community organisations, especially those in rural areas, who want to gain valuable experience and expertise in road marshalling and organising community events. This training will not only empower them to host safer and more professional events but will also foster a stronger sense of community pride and self-sufficiency across the council area."
Nicky Gilleece, Labour Market Partnership Manager with Derry City and Strabane District Council said: "We are pleased to partner with the Mayor’s Office on this important initiative. This training provides a valuable opportunity for residents to gain a useful and accredited skill set. By supporting our community groups and volunteers with this free training, we are helping to ensure that local events can run smoothly and safely, which in turn helps to strengthen local communities and provides participants with improved employability and a certified skill for their CV."
The training is specifically aimed at providing practical and useful skills that can be applied to a wide range of community-led events. Organisers hope that by offering this training, they can reduce the barriers for smaller groups and charities who may not have the resources to hire professional marshals.
Community groups, charities, and individuals interested in this opportunity are encouraged to register their interest by visiting derrystrabane.com/kickstart or by contacting Shonagh at [email protected].
Once applications are assessed and reviewed it is hoped that the training will be provided in early September.