Businesses, community enterprises and individuals contribute to the Aisling Bursary Fund and make a firm commitment to developing the skills of the local community and to enhancing young people’s capacity to achieve their full potential. The Aisling Bursaries, which celebrate their fifteenth anniversary this year, are designed to help students with their education and training costs. In 2014, thirty-six students from West Belfast and the Shankill were awarded a bursary with a total of £27,500 donated, and, since 2000, over £510,000 has been donated in total, with almost 600 students receiving bursaries. Each organisation or individual contributes £1,000 for a full-time bursary or £500 for a part-time bursary.
Geraldine McAteer, CEO of West Belfast Partnership Board, said:
“It is so pleasing that in this 15th year of the Aisling Bursaries, we have not only reached but also exceeded the half-a-million pounds mark. We are especially grateful to the sponsors, both past and present, who over fifteen years have given generously to the Bursary Fund assisting many local people to access further and higher education and training. Many of these sponsors are local businesses and have demonstrated a firm commitment to, and investment in, the West Belfast community, which in turn helps the Aisling Bursary recipients to make a better life for themselves and their families.”
Minister for the Department for Employment and Learning, Dr Stephen Farry, said:
“The Aisling Bursaries Initiative has assisted local students in West Belfast to realise their full potential through higher and further education. It has also has provided local businesses with the opportunity to put financial resources back into the community.
“The continued support of local businesses and individuals in assisting people from the local community to progress to further and higher education has been invaluable. I would like to commend their strong sense of social responsibility and recognition that education is key to community development. The benefits derived from education extend beyond the individual and contribute to the economy and society as a whole in Northern Ireland.”
Belfast Lord Mayor Councillor Nichola Mallon, who opened the Presentation evening, and who helped launch the 15th anniversary of the bursaries in June of this year, said:
“This scheme helps young people achieve their full potential. In commending the achievements of local students who benefit from it, I also pay tribute to the local businesses and those individuals who provide sponsorship. This is a great example of community pulling together to empower and enhance its potential.”
Two of the recipients of the 2014 Aisling bursaries were students from St Mary’s University College, Belfast, and they are pictured below receiving their awards.
David Fitzsimons presents the Ace Taxis Aisling Bursary to Catherine
Grieve.
Catherine is in the second year of a BEd degree in Primary Education with Irish
at St Mary’s University College, Belfast.
Catherine is in the second year of a BEd degree in Primary Education with Irish
at St Mary’s University College, Belfast.
Stephen Burke presents the Belfast Educational
Service Aisling Bursary to Lauren Toner.
Lauren is entering her final year of a degree in Liberal Arts with English
at St Mary’s University College, Belfast.
at St Mary’s University College, Belfast.
NOTES
The West Belfast Partnership Board
The West Belfast Partnership Board is a broad-based social partnership with community, statutory, political and business members who are dedicated to the regeneration of West Belfast. Key areas of work include economic development, housing, planning and environment, health and wellbeing, jobs taskforce, education, neighbourhood renewal and
strategic regeneration.
The Aisling Bursaries
The Aisling Bursaries are an education bursaries scheme delivered by the West Belfast Partnership Board which provides a valuable vehicle enabling students to access further and higher education and training. Businesses, community enterprises and individuals contribute to the bursary fund and make a firm commitment to developing the skills of the local community and enhancing people’s capacity to achieve their full potential.
The Aisling Bursaries, which were launched in March 2000, are celebrating their fifteenth anniversary this year. The Bursaries are designed to help students defray their education and training costs. All applications are considered, with special consideration given to candidates who have significant barriers preventing them from realising their full educational potential—for example, people with financial difficulties or difficult family circumstances. The Aisling Bursary Initiative also highlights the importance the business community attaches to education in developing West Belfast.
Providing financial assistance to students from West Belfast is the main aim of this bursary programme. Some bursaries are specifically for those participating in vocational training or a subject specific course of study relevant to the sponsor’s area of business or interest.
In 2014, thirty-six students from West Belfast and the Shankill were awarded either £1,000 or £500, with a total of £27,500 donated through bursaries. Since the Aisling Bursaries began in 2000, over £510,000 has been donated to a total of 584 students.