Business breakfast brings dividends for local school

Dr McCrea attended Hill Croft School recently and presented school Principal, Mrs Barbara McAuley, with a cheque for 2,782.50. A similar amount will also be presented to Riverside School in Antrim.

Commenting on the cheque presentation, Dr McCrea stated: “I was delighted to have the company of Mrs Barbara McAuley and Mrs Rosemary Rankin, the principals of Hill Croft and Riverside Schools respectively, at the recent business breakfast attended by the First Minister, Rt. Hon. Peter Robinson MLA, and the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister, Arlene Foster MLA.

“I believe that the occasion presented a valuable opportunity for local businesses to not only acknowledge the sterling work carried out by special schools, but perhaps also to recognise the need to create training and employment opportunities for those young people with learning and/or physical disabilities attaining school leaving age at 19+ years.

“I have long campaigned for appropriate post school opportunities for special school leavers, and I believe that the breakfast event presented an important networking opportunity for both schools.

“The generosity of those who attended was indeed remarkable and I am delighted to be in a position to present substantial cheques to the two schools which will no doubt be put to immediate use.

“The hard work and endeavour of the teaching staff and classroom assistants and the support that they give to both parents and children often goes unrecognised, and I, therefore, take this opportunity to pay tribute to all those who strive to ensure that each child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.”