Earlier this year, the James Kane Foundation launched an ambitious new funding programme to support STEM-related education, career opportunities, and initiatives that help students make informed choices between employment, further study, and higher education pathways.
This marked the Foundation’s first open call for education projects since its establishment in April 2016—and the response exceeded expectations.
Michael Wilson, Chair of The James Kane Foundation, said:
“The Foundation is committed to advancing education, skills, and career opportunities. Last year, the Board agreed a new strategic approach to our future funding commitments, which has come to fruition today with the announcement of these exciting projects. The Board has committed to funding twenty one new initiatives. Collectively, these investments will deliver meaningful impact across Northern Ireland, supporting young people as they navigate an increasingly complex and rapidly changing employment landscape.
Across all approved projects, the James Kane Foundation has pledged over three-quarters of a million pounds in direct interventions. These funded projects include:
Accidental Theatre – for their Shared Island Programme which will train the next generation of artists and technicians on modern hybrid live event production tools like cameras, lighting, graphics and sound systems from anywhere in the world.
Aghadarragh PSA – to provide 50 rural pupils from St Patrick’s Primary School—especially girls—with opportunities to engage in extracurricular STEM activities, promoting digital literacy, problem-solving skills, and an early interest in STEM fields.
Aspire NI – for their Secondary School project which will provide academic support, skills development, and enrichment opportunities to FSME students in six secondary schools across Belfast.
Friends of Cabrag – to purchase appropriate resources including robotic stem kits and design and technology kits to facilitate STEM activities.
Friends of Mitchell House – to deliver a year-round extra-curricular horticulture programme designed for children with severe physical disabilities and complex medical needs. The project will build skills in teamwork, communication, and vocational pathways.
GEMX – to support an additional team member dedicated to managing, developing, and delivering educational activities including interactive roadshows, STEM workshops, CPD events, and the MakeME Academy in order to promote engineering career pathways.
Holy Trinity Foundation – received a contribution towards the cost of their Futuremakers: STEM and Engineering Careers Programme. This programme, delivered over two years, will enable students at Holy Trinity College Cookstown to pursue viable careers in engineering, manufacturing, construction, and Agri-tech.
Lumen Christi – for their Re-igniting core Manufacturing Skills programme where pupils will learn how to mill, turn on the lathe (machine and wood lathes) cut, shape and weld metal and other basic skills in the school workshop.
Next Step Foundations – will use funding to empower young autistic individuals, equipping them with essential skills and providing support at key transition stages to navigate their educational, training /employment journeys through their VOICE programme.
NI Raspberry Jam – to upgrade current equipment and infrastructure in order to run free, monthly events offering hands-on STEM learning for young people aged 6 and up.
Phoenix Education Centre – will use funding from The James Kane Foundation to support their East Belfast Pathways project. This project will support young people in East Belfast who are disengaged from education or struggling to access existing programmes. A full-time Youth Pathways Mentor will work in collaboration with local schools, careers advisors, education welfare officers and community network.
Portadown College – for their Young STEM PC Ambassadors programme where Year 14 (A-Level) STEM Ambassador students visit primary and post-primary schools in Portadown and the surrounding area to deliver STEM outreach workshops.
SERC Scholarships – Through SERC, the James Kane Foundation will fundScholarships for 5 STEM students from deprived and underserved communities project over 2 years. These scholarships will help alleviate financial burdens for low-income individuals, enabling them to purchase necessary materials and participate in valuable extracurricular activities related to STEM.
SERC Stem Adventure project, inpartnership with CSI Steve Experience & Adventures, will engage students and the public in STEM through forensic workshops that focus on fingerprint analysis, footprint examination, blood pattern recognition, and odour analysis. This project will be delivered in the SERC Bangor, Newcastle, Lisburn and Downpatrick campuses.
South West College – were awarded funding for their Bridge to Build project. This project will empower Special Educational Needs (SEN) students to progress into construction and engineering careers by providing first-hand industry experience, mentorship, and structured support. This initiative connects SEN learners with STEM employers.
Specialisterne – with funding, will run a Digital Horizons Academy project which will support participants to make choices between employment, career or future education opportunities. The academy model is specifically designed for neurodivergent people. Participants will develop skills with IBM SkillsBuild, to gain industry-recognised digital credentials, a curriculum to develop workplace confidence, boost employability skills, and strategies for thriving in a workplace.
St Mary’s Grammar, Magherafelt – for their Coding with Confidence: empowering future female innovators project. Aimed at female students will build confidence through hands-on experience, and equip students with essential coding skills through coding workshops, mentorship programmes, coding competitions, career events and industry partnerships, including collaboration with the Magherafelt Rural Learning Partnership.
St Mary’s Primary School – received funding for their Innovate & Create: STEM Pathways project for their KS1 and KS2 pupils. Partnering with MEGA, Science Starz, and an engineering firm (OHM Engineering), the project will run for 16 weeks, introducing pupils to the engineering sector through hands-on workshops.
Supporting Communities – will deliver the James Kane Foundation Scholarships encompassing the design, development, recruitment, management and administration of the Scholarship programme for school leavers in the Portadown/ Lurgan Area intending to study STEM related degrees, with a particular focus on Engineering at University. Scholarships for 2 students over 3 years will alleviate financial burdens for low-income individuals.
The Advantage Foundation – their STEMStart project is an education-based programme that equips young people in Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon with the confidence, creativity and tools to explore careers in STEM and sustainable enterprise. Delivered across two academic years, and using real-world challenges grounded in the UN Sustainable Development Goals, students explore the intersection of science, technology, engineering and maths with innovation and entrepreneurship.
West Armagh Consortium – their Pixels and Possibilities project is a digital illustration programme designed to equip young people with creative and technical skills, while providing hands-on experience with industry standard hardware and software. Delivered through interactive workshops in schools and community centres, the project introduces students to digital art, storytelling, and professional illustration techniques.
Stay up to date with the latest initiatives by following The James Kane Foundation on Facebook, X and LinkedIn.