Our Projects
Our Current Projects
Latest Funding Awards to Support Education, Skills and Opportunity Across Northern Ireland
The James Kane Foundation has announced its latest round of funding, supporting a diverse range of projects designed to inspire young people, develop skills, and create meaningful pathways into education, training, and employment across Northern Ireland. This year’s...
Digital Horizon Academy
This year Specialisterne Northern Ireland launched Digital Horizon – a new Digital Skills Academy, funded by The James Kane Foundation. This academy is designed for neurodivergent individuals aged 18+ who are diagnosed or self-identify as autistic, dyslexic, dyspraxic...
Bridge to Build: Connecting SEN Talent with Construction and Engineering
Bridge to Build (B2B) was established to support learners with Special Educational Needs (SEN) at South West College to progress into careers in construction and engineering. The project connects SEN learners with STEM employers, providing first-hand industry...
Aspire NI Post Primary Project
The Aspire N.I. Secondary Schools Project supports young people in Belfast from Free School Meal Entitlement (FSME) backgrounds, helping to close the educational attainment gap and raise aspirations. Delivered across five secondary schools, the project provides weekly...
Futuremakers at Holy Trinity College
With support from The James Kane Foundation, the Holy Trinity Foundation has launched the Futuremakers: STEM and Engineering Careers Programme at Holy Trinity College Cookstown . Delivered over two years, the initiative supports pupils in exploring viable careers in...
VOICE Project: Supporting Autistic Young People Through Key Transitions
With support from The James Kane Foundation, the VOICE (Value Opportunity Inspiration Collaboration Empowerment) project, run by Next Step Transitions, is helping autistic young people successfully transition from school to further or higher education, training, or...
Young people gain skills in EOTAS centres to break into NI booming screen industry
Young people gain skills in EOTAS centres to break into NI booming screen industry The Education Authority has launched a new programme giving young people in specialist education settings the chance to explore Northern Ireland’s creative industry. The Creative Arts...
East Belfast Pathways
We are proud to support East Belfast Pathways, delivered by Phoenix Education Centre NI, a targeted mentoring and outreach programme helping young people aged 14–18 who are disengaged from education or at risk of becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or...
Talk to the Professionals
Talk to the Professionals, run by Accidental Theatre, aims to bridge the gap between education and industry through hands-on, future-focused training for the next generation of creative professionals Funded by the James Kane Foundation, Accidental’s Talk to the...
Innovate & Create: STEM Pathways
We were proud to support Innovate & Create: STEM Pathways, a fully funded, hands-on STEM learning programme delivered at St Mary’s Primary School, Aughnacloy. Over six weeks, pupils took part in an engaging programme built around the Engineering Design Process,...
Career Quest – New Online Career Platform
A new project by Workplus designed to inspire young people in the Antrim & Newtownabbey area about future careers has been launched at Parkhall Integrated School. Entitled Career Quest and funded by the James Kane Foundation, the project is specifically...
MakeMe Programme
GEMX has officially launched MakeME 2025, a new programme designed to connect 14 local schools with 14 local companies, expanding opportunities for young people. The initiative has received significant support from Derry City and Strabane District Council, The James...
SERC Students Awarded James Kane Foundation Scholarships
Six students from South Eastern Regional College (SERC) have been awarded James Kane Foundation Scholarships to help support their studies. The students, all pursuing science or engineering courses, will each receive one or two-year scholarships providing £3,000 per...
University STEM Scholarship Recipients
From aspiring astrophysicists to future forensic scientists, The 2025 James Kane Foundation Scholarship recipients are already making their mark. These five exceptional students are proof that when talent meets opportunity, remarkable things will happen. Supporting...
Research into Effective Leadership in Disadvantaged Communities
A new research report has recently been launched, entitled Effective Leadership in Disadvantaged Communities. Carried out by the team at Stranmillis University College, which included Prof Noel Purdy, Dr Karen Orr, and Dr Glenda Walsh, the report was funded by The...
Shankill Primary Active Learning Community Project
The Shankill Primary School Active Learning Community brings together principals from eight primary schools to work collaboratively on the unique challenges and opportunities facing children and families in the area. In partnership with the Greater Shankill...
Young Enterprise: Building Aspirations for Young People
The Building Aspirations Project is transforming opportunities for young people in 18 non-selective schools across Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon, and Newry, Mourne and Down. These schools, with above-average levels of free school meal entitlement, will benefit from...
WorkPlus – Jobs for me: Inspiring the Next Generation of STEM Talent
With support from the James Kane Foundation, the Jobs For Me project will engage more than 700 Year 9 and 10 pupils across Antrim and Newtownabbey, encouraging them to become “Career Explorers.” By connecting young people with 40 local employers, the project will...
DreamSchemeNI: Enabling Young People into Digital Media
Dreamscheme NI, a youth charity supporting disadvantaged young people aged 11–18, is launching a transformative digital media project across five housing estates in Belfast and Antrim. With support from the James Kane Foundation, young people at risk of exclusion will...
EOTAS Project:Opening Digital Pathways for Vulnerable Young People
With support from the James Kane Foundation, 17 Key Stage 4 centres across Northern Ireland are introducing a new OCNNI qualification in Creative Arts and Digital Technologies. This initiative ensures that pupils—many from the most disadvantaged and vulnerable...
North Belfast Digital Technology Hub
St Malachy’s College has built a new and exciting Creative Digital Hub for North Belfast to enable the expansion of a new Key Stage 3 Creative Digital Curriculum for the young people in the area. North Belfast Digital Hub in use With global technological advancement,...
MEGA Mentor Support
The MEGA network (Manufacturing & Engineering Growth & Advancement) was established in 2019 to advance and grow world-class manufacturing and engineering by attracting, developing and retaining people. Their mission is to promote the manufacturing and...
SistersIN
The SisterIn Project officially launched in June 2019. Initiated by Assumption Grammar School, the aim of the programme is to foster leadership qualities and confidence amongst their sixth form girls. The project aims to readdress the imbalance of women in leadership...