Geraldine McAteerCEO, WBPB

Welcome and Introduction to the conference

Mission

• Our mission is to tackle disadvantage by involving people who live and work in West Belfast in the social, economic, physical and cultural regeneration of this part of the city, ensuring that West Belfast makes a full contribution to and benefits equitably from, developments in the city as a whole.

Education at the heart of Regeneration

Easter School

Saturday School

Transitions /Summer School

Aisling Bursaries

Integrated Services

Education & Training Forum

DE Funded Initiatives

• Community Education Initiative Programme• West Belfast Community Project

Conference Aims

• To examine the challenges and opportunities for education in west Belfast.

• To take a strategic and practical look at how we can forge greater collaboration locally between schools, educationalists, families and communities in order to develop excellent educational outcomes for children and young people.

Conference Objectives

• To address pupil under achievement • To redefine the relationships between schools, educationalists

and communities in order to forge greater collaboration • To generate a much higher level of commitment to the

importance of education in individuals, families and communities

• To examine opportunities for learners to access appropriate education pathways linked to employment opportunities

Conference Outcomes

• To develop a long term collaborative working relationship between schools, educationalists and communities in west Belfast.

• To develop a strategic partnership approach leading to transformational change in educational outcomes for learners in west Belfast.

• To share information on new educational initiatives funded by the DE in west Belfast.