Integrated Education Fund

Event Date: 26th January, 2012

Join us in Ballynahinch on Thursday 26th January for a discussion on the challenges and opportunities for our schools in the Down Council area.

This event is one of a series of community discussions being organised by RCN and the IEF with local partners around Northern Ireland throughout the year.

The purpose of these meetings is to explore some of the issues which could lead to significant changes in how schools are planned, funded,managed and structured. It’s crucial that each child receives the best education possible as schools react to the budget cuts. This presents challenges, particularly in areas where there are a large number of small schools that are below the Department of Education’s sustainable enrolment criteria.

This context presents real opportunities for communities and their schools to do things differently; to imagine how education might be delivered differently in their area in the best interests of children, both today and in the future. In some communities this could involve exploring greater degrees of sharing either within or between schools.

This event is being chaired by William Crawley who is a journalist, broadcaster and blogger with the BBC, and who presents a variety of TV and radio programmes.

For more information or to register contact Charmain Jones by Telephone: 028 8676 6670 or
Email: charmain@ruralcommunitynetwork.org

When

Thursday 26th January
6.30pm—9.30pm
Light tea from 6.00pm

Where

Millbrook Lodge Hotel
5 Drumaness Road
Ballynahinch, BT24 8LS

Join the discussion online using hashtag #edni12

Event Date: 24th November, 2011

You are cordially invited to a debate in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings on Thursday 24 November 2011 from 5.00pm – 7.00pm chaired by Lynda Bryans.

The motion for the debate is:

This house believes that the time is right for a fully integrated system of education.

There will be a range of respondents at the debate providing, for example:

• Experiences from England and the Republic of Ireland on their challenges in growing inclusive, multi-denominational schools;
• Perspectives of educationalists from a range of sectors on their different views on the motion.

There will also be ample time for you to have your say about whether you are for or against the motion.

As spaces are limited, registration will be on a first come first basis – please contact Sharon Gregg at the IEF on 028 9033 0031 or Sharon@ief.org.uk to let us know whether or not you will be attending.

Click here to access the invitation which will be required to gain entry to the event.

Event Date: 17th November, 2011

The Integrated Education Fund, with Rural Community Network and the South Tyrone Empowerment Programme, is holding an evening discussion, chaired by William Crawley, on the challenges, changes and opportunities for local schools and communities in the Dungannon District Council area.

Date: Thursday 17th November
Time: 6.30 pm – 9.30 pm
Location : Corick House, Clogher

Please register with Charmain Jones at RCN on 028 867 66670 or charmain@ruralcommunitynetwork.org

For more information please click here.

Event Date: 9th September, 2011

Come and join us at Down Royal Racecourse on Friday 9th September 2011 for an afternoon of racing, food and fun – all in aid of the Integrated Education Fund.

The day will get off to a flying start at 12.30pm with a drinks reception followed by an excellent lunch including wine, in the newly-refurbished private Moscow Flyer Suite. From there you will be able to enjoy views of the parade ring before each race and once the tape goes up you can watch the races progress from a private viewing area in the grandstand. A professional tipster will be on hand to help (or hinder!) you – and if you back a winner you will be perfectly situated to view the presentation of prizes in the winners’ enclosure.The glamourous MC for the day will be Mr Leo Callow, with celebrity guest, Tim McGarry popping in for a chat during the day too!

Local artists, Christine Trueman* and Dr. David Sweet* are among some of the great supporters signed up to help out with the event and will showcase and auction their original pieces with proceeds from the event helping the IEF’s campaign to support the growth of integrated schools and meaningful shared education projects. Other fantastic auction prizes include tickets to Josh Groban’s sold out Belfast show (kindly donated by John Reid, Warner Music Europe CEO) and a corporate box with dinner for 10 people at the Down Royal Racecourse (kindly donated by Mike Todd, CEO of Down Royal Racecourse.)

Ticket price £1000 per table or £100 per seat to include:

• Entrance to the racecourse
• Unlimited use of the hospitality suite and private viewing areas
• Racecard
• Drinks reception
• Four-course lunch with wine
• Surprise celebrity guest
• Tipster
• Private bar

Contact Brian or Gemma at the IEF for more details: 028 9033 0031

*

Christine Trueman is a contemporary artist from Northern Ireland whose work on iconic portraits has gained increasing plaudits resulting in her work being very much ‘in demand’. She works from her studio at home where she lives with her husband and three children. About her work, Christine says ‘I have always drawn portraits and caricatures of people. I think my fascination for faces stems from my poor ability to remember names!’ Her paintings can be viewed at Carrie Neely Fine Art and on Facebook. Christine is a founding parent of Millennium Integrated Primary School in Carryduff and is current Chair of the Board of Governors.

Dr David Sweet is a Consultant Paediatrician at the Royal Hosptital for Children and also an emerging artistic talent, specialising in figurative work in soft pastel. A full member of the Pastel Society of Ireland, his work ‘Ladybirds’ was used to launch their autumn exhibition in Belfast’s Waterfront Hall in 2010. His paintings can be viewed at www.davidsweet.co.uk or at Charles Gilmore’s Gallery. David supports parental demand for integrated education.

Event Date: 26th May, 2011

“Shared education or shared out education – which will best serve the needs of our children’s future?” That was a question raised at Sustaining Schools, Sustaining Communities, an event organised by Rural Community Network and the IEF in Ballyronan, on the banks of Lough Neagh.

Read More Here

Event Date: 20th May, 2011

After weeks of hard work and with the help of their teachers and classroom assistants, the pupils from integrated primary schools brought their Scarecrows to Allianz Scarecrow Street this month and spent a fantastic weekend at Garden Show Ireland, Hillsborough Castle, picking up lots of awards on their way!

Read more here