Integrated Education Fund

The latest round of grants under the IEF Promoting a Culture of Trust (PACT) scheme is now open for applications. The PACT programme, which is now in its thirteenth year, encourages cross-community projects which explore and celebrate diversity.

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First Minister Peter Robinson has underlined the value of sharing and integration at a ceremony to celebrate a language project in County Down.

Awarding certificates to primary school “graduates” of the Sharing Languages, Sharing Cultures project, Mr Robinson  praised everyone involved – the schools of all management types who join on a cross-cultural basis for language classes; Shimna Integrated College which runs the project; parents who have been supportive throughout ; Queens University’ Sharing Education Programme which backed the SLSC in its early years and funders Dr Gerard O’Hare and Atlantic Philanthropies  who have helped keep  the programme going. (more…)

Pupils at Glengormley Integrated Primary School were glad to show off their new laptops when Baroness May Blood MBE visited the school’s IT suite. The equipment was bought thanks to a donation from the Australian Ireland Fund, after the charity’s  Executive Director, Teresa Keating, toured the school last summer on a trip organised by the Integrated Education Fund. (more…)

A prominent businessman returned to his Northern Ireland roots recently to see how his backing  for integrated education has helped Crumlin Integrated Primary school.  Brian Dickie, who was born and brought up in County Tyrone, visited Crumlin IPS playgroup which he is supporting through the American Ireland Fund. (more…)

Budding stars in the realms of theatre, art and film gathered at the Lyric Theatre on 10th October) for the annual Carson Awards Ceremony.   Creative talent in integrated schools around Northern Ireland was celebrated as local entertainer John Linehan handed out the trophies and certificates.   An invited audience enjoyed films, live drama and fine art in a showcase of the winning projects.  

An exhibition of prizewinner’s work, including painting and collage was mounted in the foyer of the theatre, and short films and an extract of the play Delicates were shown in the Naughton Studio. (more…)

Children from Pond Park Nursery School and St Aloysius Nursery Unit in Lisburn joined Sara  Shields, Grants  Officer  of the Integrated Education Fund,  to celebrate the pledge of a million pounds to promote and support sharing between and within schools.  The nurseries are working together  in an IEF PACT (Promoting A Culture of Trust) scheme which brings children of different cultural backgrounds together to explore diversity. (more…)