On 19th May 1779, within Belfast’s Poor House, Belfast merchants Robert Joy and Thomas McCabe proposed teaching the children practical skills and trades in cotton manufacturing, enabling them to gain employment, achieve financial independence, and ultimately break the cycle of poverty once they were ready to leave the Poor House. A few decades later, Mary Ann McCracken had similar ambitions for the children, supporting their education and providing job opportunities through apprenticeship programmes.
That same spirit of opportunity continues through the Mary Ann McCracken Bursary Programme, which today announces its fifth year of support for young people across North Belfast.
Established in 2021 by Belfast Charitable Society and the Mary Ann McCracken Foundation, the bursary programme was created to help remove financial barriers preventing young people aged 16+ from progressing into further education, higher education, apprenticeships, training or employment.
Since its launch, the programme has supported more than 300 pupils across North Belfast, helping young people overcome obstacles such as transport costs, course fees, digital exclusion and the purchase of essential equipment needed to continue their education or training.
Funding for the fifth year of the programme has been secured through support from Belfast Charitable Society, the Mary Ann McCracken Foundation, The James Kane Foundation, Hunter Smyth Fund, LFT Charitable Trust and, for the first time, private sector investment through Fibrus.
Norma Sinte, Chair of the Mary Ann McCracken Foundation, explained
“It is fitting that we announce the fifth year of this bursary programme on the anniversary of this significant date in May 1779 when this big change in focus within the Poor House took place, that of helping children develop skills and opportunities that could break the cycle of poverty. Today, while the challenges may look different, the principle remains the same. Mary Ann McCracken also believed deeply in education, dignity and opportunity for every young person. This bursary programme continues that legacy by ensuring that financial hardship does not prevent talented young people from progressing into education, training or employment.”
The bursaries are administered through the North Belfast Area Learning Community and distributed across 12 post-primary schools in the area: Belfast Boys’ Model School, Belfast Model School for Girls, Blessed Trinity College, Belfast Royal Academy, Cedar Lodge Special School, Dominican College, Edmund Rice College, Hazelwood College, Loughshore Education Resource Centre, Mercy College Belfast, Royal Belfast Academical Institution and St Malachy’s College.
Norma Sinte continues “Over the past four years we have seen first-hand the transformational impact these bursaries can have. Sometimes the support needed is relatively small for example help with travel, technology, equipment or course-related costs. The difference it makes to a young person’s future can be enormous.”
Kevwe received a Mary Ann McCracken bursary in 2025, which changed everything. She said:
“I was in receipt of the Mary Ann McCracken bursary in my last year of school in Belfast Royal Academy. At that time, I was going through a very difficult personal situation and I ended up estranged from my family and living in a hostel. The funds provided enabled me to stay in school and complete my A levels which was my pathway to studying Computer and Information Technology at Northumbria University. It really helped support me during my studies and gave me extra motivation and confidence to begin university. The bursary allowed me to go into university with so much confidence. So far, I have completed and will begin some internships I never thought I would have access to and truly appreciate the opportunity and support the bursary provided.
I am so grateful to the organisers of the fund for providing the financial support I so desperately needed at the time as I know that otherwise I would not have had these opportunities to improve my life chances. Thank you – the money really was a lifeline for me.”
Conal Henry, Co-Founder and Chair at Fibrus, which is supporting the bursaries for the first time, commented:
“This bursary programme is about giving young people choices and opportunities. We are delighted to support these pupils in their pursuit of university, apprenticeships, further education or employment based on their interests and ambitions, ensuring they are not limited by financial circumstances. It is inspiring to hear from Kevwe and the difference the programme has made to her future prospects.”
The latest Mary Ann McCracken Bursary Programme is expected to support at least 50 pupils during the coming academic year, starting September 2026.