Integrated Education Fund

Major donors and advocates of the Integrated Education Fund gathered in the House of Lords on Tuesday 15th November 2011 for a celebration of Integrated Education in Northern Ireland. Baroness May Blood MBE, IEF Campaign Chair, hosted the event, which brought together over 100 guests, including influential politicians from both Houses of Parliament and leading business figures from across the UK and Ireland, who support the Integrated Education Campaign in Northern Ireland. Also in attendance was legendary comedian, Frank Carson, who along with his family, sponsored the event.

As part of the ongoing celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of integrated education, the key note speaker was Ms Sheila Greenfield, the founding Principal of the first formally integrated school, Lagan College, who was accompanied by the current Principal, Ms Amanda McNamee. 

Baroness May Blood MBE said ‘To think back in 1981 there were just 28 children in one integrated school, yet today we have over 21,000 in 62 is some achievement to be celebrated, but as you will expect me to say that is nowhere near enough! More than ever I am convinced that educating our children side by side in the same classrooms will help build a truly shared society.’

Guests also heard from Suzie Smyth, a past pupil of Lagan College and Forge Integrated Primary School, who said ‘I’m very pleased to be able to thank the guests for their support and to show how it has provided me with the opportunity of going to schools which represented all sides of our community. Even though NI is a very different place today than it was 30 years, I believe we still need to create more opportunities for children to learn together and I’ll always be a champion and advocate for that.’