3rd October 2002

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A former University of Ulster student has been awarded a £1,600 grant from the NI Voluntary Trust’s Millennium Award scheme to continue her pioneering work with Belfast schoolchildren who have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

Diane Stirrup was one of three students from the University who took part in a community liaison initiative with pupils from St Vincent’s secondary school which is located off Belfast’s Woodstock Road.

Diane was involved in a mentoring scheme with the pupils and two other students worked on arts projects.

The award from the NIVT Millennium Award Scheme now means that she can continue that work until at least the end of January 2003.

She said: “I take the pupils for about an hour a week and we will be examining Belfast in particular, and Northern Ireland in general, from the perspective of ‘My Community’. This will involve such things as visiting the Giants Causeway and looking at historical influences in Belfast such as the Blitz, the linen industry and the aircraft industry.

“We will also be looking to the future and Belfast’s bid to become an European Capital of Culture in 2008”.

Anne Monaghan, Community Liaison Officer with the University, said: “The achievements of the pupils of St Vincents and the student volunteers have been tremendous. The project grew out of our work with local groups in the Holy Land area and we hope to continue with the mentoring project and indeed extend it if there is sufficient demand”.

Brian Davey, Principal of St Vincents, added: “This scheme has greatly benefited our pupils and a good relationship has developed between them and the UU students. We hope to develop our relationship with the University of Ulster in other ways and the award of this grant from the NIVT Millennium Award Scheme will enable us to consolidate what has already been achieved.”

The University of Ulster is seeking other student volunteers to work on the project. Volunteers should contact Anne Monaghan on 028 9026 7241.

For further information, please contact:

Press Office Department of Communication and Development
Telephone: 028 9036 6178
Email: pressoffice@ulster.ac.uk