PACT IX Open for School Applications

The Promoting A Culture of Trust (PACT) programme, which is open to all schools in Northern Ireland, was officially launched by the Permanent Secretary of State for Education, Will Haire and Chair of the IEF Grants Committee, Dr Pamela Montgomery at 2.30pm on Thursday 7 February 2008 at Loughshore Education Resource Centre, Belfast.

Dr Montgomery said “The aim of the programme is to promote the development of skills and relationships that enable schools, pupils, staff, governors and the wider community to increase their understanding, acceptance and respect for political, cultural and religious differences.

The programme is open to all Primary and Post Primary schools, and Early Years Education Providers in Northern Ireland and we would encourage applications that involve partnerships of two or more schools and represent at least two of the main traditions in Northern Ireland.”

The PACT programme was established in 2000 by Senator George Mitchell, with support from the Northern Ireland Fund for Reconciliation and to date has awarded over £475,000 to143 projects involving 321 schools and organisationsacross Northern Ireland.

The IEF has been supported in funding the new round of PACT by the Department of Education and BT.

The new programme will operate a three level grant structure.

• up to £5,000 – projects which run during the academic year 2008/09 and complete no later than May 2009;
• up to £10,000 – projects which run during the academic year 2008/09 and complete no later than May 2010;
• up to £25,000 – projects which run during the academic year 2008/09 and complete no later than May 2011

The PACT programme opened for applications on Monday 11 February and closes on Friday 18 April 2008. Guidelines and application forms are now available from the IEF website

www.ief.org.uk