Local Schools Celebrate Success of Good Relations Shared Schools Programme

Students from Newry High School, St. Paul’s High School, Bessbrook, Newtownhamilton High School and St. Joseph’s High School, Crossmaglen celebrated the success of their Together: Building a United Community programme (T:BUC) in the newly built St. Joseph’s High School, Crossmaglen on Wednesday 5 October.

The T:BUC Programme is funded by the Executive Office and delivered locally by Newry and Slieve Gullion District Electoral Area (DEA) Forums in partnership with the Education Authority. It provides a range of opportunities for young people from different backgrounds, to come together to build positive relationships based on mutual understanding and respect through a variety of good relations, safety and health and wellbeing workshops and activities. The aim of the programme is to improve community relations continuing the journey towards a more united and shared society.

As part of the social action aspect of the programme, the pupils from local schools identified mental health as their primary focus and recently arranged a colour run to raise a total of £1,500 which they donated to the charity P.I.P.S Hope and Support.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Michael Savage congratulated the students on their programme of achievement, “Celebrating good relations and learning new skills to build relationships, while promoting diversity and inclusion within our community is important as we reflect upon the richness of our culture.”

Cllr Savage continued, “I am delighted to see first-hand the results of the T:BUC programme and would like to congratulate and encourage all the students and schools that have taken part in this programme to continue to work together to build a united community which is enriched by diversity and welcoming to all.”