Schools North East has partnered with the Community Foundation to make £100,000 of funding available for schools looking to develop their cultural, sporting or careers provision for disadvantaged and looked-after children. Funding of around £4,000 is available per bid for schools in Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, Northumberland, North and South Tyneside for projects that focus on the following priorities:
- Developing dedicated cultural and sporting enrichment opportunities for students
- Giving disadvantaged children access to cultural spaces and events, such as visits to museums, art galleries, places of local historical significance and sporting interests
- Developing high quality Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) and work placements and university visits for disadvantaged and looked after children.
The aim of the fund is to provide a broader enriched curriculum to support students in-school learning, raise levels of pride and appreciation of the region, and develop cultural capital within school settings.
Students will also be able to understand the opportunities and career pathways available to them in their post-school days and remove some of the cultural and societal stigmas that are often cited as barriers for disadvantaged children in terms of their participation in further education and training.