THRiVE Newtownabbey was delighted to welcome a number of Barnardo’s Trustees recently.

Seven trustees spent Friday 13th October 2023 visiting some of the organisations engaged with THRiVE Newtownabbey and had the opportunity to hear from and ask questions to a range of partners involved in all aspects of the project.

Beginning at Monkstown Boxing Club, the Trustees and assembled guests were welcomed by Michelle Harris, Assistant Director, Children’s Services, Barnardo’s NI and Hilary Johnston, Chairperson of the THRiVE Project Board.  Project Co-ordinator Claire Humphrey then set the scene for the rest of the morning by giving an overview of the project.

Subsequent speakers included Dr Karen Orr and Professor Noel Purdy, who between them spoke about the value of a Learning Partnership approach and shared some of the findings which have come from work that The Centre for Research in Educational Underachievement (CREU) at Stranmillis University College has been undertaking looking into local perceptions of and understanding about the work of THRiVE Newtownabbey as well as commenting on how THRiVE Newtownabbey is influencing policy.

Dawn Blain, Principal of Whitehouse Primary School shared some thoughts on the benefits of collaboration and the value of partnering with other local schools while John McConnell Deputy Principal of the Department of Education’s Tackling Educational Disadvantage Team spoke about how experiences and learning from THRiVE Newtownabbey has informed a number of other programmes.

After lunch and a tour of the Boxing club, during which the Trustees heard about the In Your Corner’ Education Programme, a partnership between the Club and Abbey Community College, the Trustee’s made the short journey to Abbots Cross Primary School, hearing about the WE CAN… Aspiration Campaign on the way!

Having been welcomed by Principal Joanne Griffiths, there they also heard from Joe Davies, P1 teacher at Rathcoole Primary School, Roisin O’Neill, Manager of Newtownabbey Family Connections and Lorna Thompson, one of our THRiVE Parent Champions about the remaining aspects of the various programmes and projects which make up the collaboration which is THRiVE Newtownabbey.