Parental project graduates

Ballykeel Nursery Unit & First Steps Pre-School parents celebrated the completion of a 14-week project at a graduation event for the Building New Communities through Positive Parenting and Reconciliation (BNCPPR) Project.

The Building New Communities through Positive Parenting and Reconciliation (BNCPPR) Project pairs schools on a cross-community basis to deliver a highly-structured parenting and reconciliation programme.

Parents of children at Ballykeel Nursery Unit and First Steps Pre-School were among those celebrating at a graduation event in Rosspark Hotel last week.

The project involved parents from eight schools that were paired on a cross-community basis and drawn from areas in the North Eastern Education and Library Board catchment.

Participants on the programme have the option to advance to an accredited Open College Network (OCN) Level 2 training qualification while teachers and classroom assistants have access to special training that compliments the parenting methods.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, John Carson from the International Fund for Ireland, said: “This is a high quality programme that instils confidence and practical parenting knowhow while tackling difficult issues. It is successfully helping parents to prevent and breakdown negative attitudes and behaviour.”

Michael Devine, BNCPPR Project Manager, said: “Parents from all walks of life want the same thing, for their children to be happy, safe and successful. This project works to bring about this positive change and the immense enthusiasm, ambition and collaborative efforts from those involved is making it a reality. That’s reflected in the remarkable completion rate in the NEELB catchment and the difference this project is making for parents in everyday life.”