We are delighted to announce that a new pilot funding opportunity has arisen in Northern Ireland.
This opportunity is to work with a small number of special schools across Northern Ireland as part of a pilot project focussing on ‘Engaging the Voice of Children and Young People’. Funding has been awarded to 7 pilot schools to employ Music, Art, Drama or Play Therapists to Engage the Voice of Children and Young People with the most profound and complex disabilities, behaviour and communication needs in a conversation about what is important to them at school, at home and in the community.
Funding is for approximately 4 half-days or 2 full-days per week in total, for 20 weeks between now and the end of the current school year, and the culmination of this work will be that the voice of these children and young people will be heard front and centre of a series of planning workshops in April 2024. As such, this is an alternative approach to traditional art, drama, music and play therapy, but there will be therapeutic benefit to the children at the same time.
If you would be interested in this opportunity, please contact the schools involved directly.
Clarawood Special School (Belfast) – Principal Joanne Whyte – 02890472736 – jwhyte648@clarawood.belfast.ni.sch.uk
Hillcroft Special School (Newtownabbey) – Principal Roz McFeeters – 02890837488 – rmcfeeters743@hillcroftsp.newtownabbey.ni.sch.uk
Brookfield Special School (Moira) – Acting Principal Aoife Cochrane – 02892622978 – acochrane120@brookfieldss.craigavon.ni.sch.uk
Glenveagh Special School (Belfast) – Principal Anne Moore – 02890669907 – amoore319@glenveagh.belfast.ni.sch.uk
Ardnashee Special School (Derry) – Vice Principal Julie McDevitt – 02871263270 – jmcdevitt615@asc.lderry.ni.sch.uk
Arvalee Special School (Omagh) – Vice Principal Kathleen Gallagher – 02882255710 – kgallagher818@asrc.omagh.ni.sch.uk
Donard Special School (Banbridge) – Principal Edel Lavery – 02840662357 – elavery385@donard.banbridge.ni.sch.uk
