Supporting the UK

Each year we produce a series of publications showing how the Leonardo, Grundtvig and Transversal programmes provide funding for projects and activities all around the UK. These publications are sent directly to elected policymakers and key stakeholders to help raise their awareness of the good work done by the programmes in their country. This year, we would like to share them with you on our blog!

Over the next few weeks we’ll be publishing a series of posts looking at our programmes in the different countries of the UK. First up, Northern Ireland…

Supporting Northern Ireland

Since 2007 organisations across Northern Ireland have been awarded over 8.3 million euro in grants through our programmes. This translates into hundreds of projects and training activities allowing organisations to upskill their staff, improve their educational provision and provide a better experience for their learners.

Northern Ireland performs well in the Leonardo, Grundtvig and Transversal programmes. In 2011 it was awarded around 6% of funded projects in the UK, and around 8% of UK funding. As Northern Ireland’s population is around 3% of the UK’s total population we think this represents excellent levels of participation.

Our document ‘Supporting Northern Ireland’ shows how the activities organisations are engaging in support Government priorities set out in the Programme for Government (see http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/index/programme-for-government-and-budget-v1.htm). Through a series of short case studies we look at how our funding is championing priority areas such as growing a sustainable economy, tackling disadvantage, protecting our people, and building a strong community.

Creating young entrepreneurs in Northern Ireland

Fifteen education and training professionals from across Europe, spent a week with hosts Craigavon Industrial Development Organisation (CIDO) through funding from the Transversal programme. The visit provided an opportunity for the participants to talk to local economic development policy makers in Northern Ireland on how best to engender an enterprise culture. The programme included visits to local businesses, schools and colleges to see the links that have been made between them.

“This was a great opportunity for Northern Ireland and CIDO to showcase all the good work we are doing to encourage an enterprise culture. Our involvement is an acknowledgement of the innovative programmes we have been developing and implementing over more than two decades.”

Gordon Gough, General Manager, CIDO

You can download the full publication here:  www.transversal.org.uk/supportingnorthernireland