Minister sees Jigsaw project put together in Ballymena

IMPROVED educational outcomes are on the cards for pupils at four Ballymena schools with the launch, last Wednesday, by Social Development Minister Alex Attwood of the Jigsaw Project in the borough.

The project will be managed by Barnardos, who will work in partnership with Ballykeel, Camphill and Harryville Primary Schools and Ballee Community High School, to support for children, young people and their families in education.

Three specialist workers will be employed by Barnardos to develop contacts with parents and children in the schools and the community and their job will be to support and build links between schools and families to help ensure positive relationships between parents, teachers and young people.

funding

Individual parental support will also be offered through a wide range of organisations in the community.

Launching Jigsaw at Ballee, Alex Attwood said: “The funding of the Jigsaw project is positive news for the young people of the Ballymena. Improving educational outcomes for our young people is an important part of ensuring a solid foundation for their future.

“Our young people need to be nurtured and educational projects like this one can do a lot to help. Through this project, support will be provided to parents and children with a view to creating a more socially inclusive, empowered and sustainable community.

“I welcome the progress that has been made to date by Ballymena Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership to develop and implement their Action Plan which seeks to meet the needs of everyone living within the Neighbourhood Renewal Area.

“Neighbourhood Renewal is an essential strategy going forward. Addressing disadvantage should be the mark of our government and our budget.”

The Department for Social Development contributed 79,676.00 towards the Jigsaw Project with the remaining 13,099 provided by the schools involved.

Una Magee of Barnardos said: “Barnardos are delighted to be working with schools, families and communities in Ballymena to help enhance children’s experience of education and enable children to become the best they can be”.