Bursaries in Mary Ann McCracken’s name making a huge impact on young people’s lives.

by caroline

Over the last three years the Mary Ann McCracken Bursary Programme has provided £72,000 of funding to a total of 242 pupils across North Belfast in the form of direct and targeted support. The bursaries offer financial help in order to break down barriers to education to those who are disadvantaged due to poverty.

Today, a fourth round of funding for pupils studying in North Belfast has just been announced. In conjunction with Belfast Charitable Society, The James Kane Foundation, Hunter Smyth Fund and LFT Trust, the Mary Ann McCracken Foundation have committed to £30,000 of funding which will be distributed via the North Belfast Area Learning Community to 12 post primary schools in the area in order to support more pupils aged 16 and over.

Norma Sinte, Chair of the Mary Ann McCracken Foundation explains “Over the last three years we have heard about the very positive impact this targeted funding is having on pupils from North Belfast. In some cases, the impact is life changing. It is because of this that we have announced another year of funding, so more pupils can be supported in their education and given a chance to escape poverty, a cause very close to Mary Ann McCracken’s heart.”

The Mary Ann McCracken Bursaries are administered through 12 post primary schools, which form part of the North Belfast Area Learning Community. It provides the schools with a flexible fund which, in some cases, is the difference between a child going to University or not; of getting an apprenticeship job or not; of being able to get to a job interview or not.

A school principal from North Belfast Area Learning Community commented “As a school, we are indebted to the support provided by the Mary Ann McCracken Bursary Programme. For the past two years, we have encountered the very difficult situation involving two female students who are estranged from their parents due to emotional and physical abuse. This resulted in both girls leaving the family home to live in a hostel. We have used the funds to provide the girls with a weekly allowance to purchase their evening meal and contribute to housing costs to supplement the benefits they receive. In both cases, the pupils have been able to complete their studies and progress to higher education. This would not have been possible without the generous financial support from the Mary Ann McCracken Foundation.”

Norma Sinte added “We have recently heard the story of one pupil who was supported with a bursary last year. This particular student had become a carer for their younger siblings and also, on occasion, their mother who was an alcoholic. Towards the end of Year 14, the pupil was also diagnosed with cancer. Despite all these challenges on the student’s time and health, they received the grades and were offered a place at University, however they didn’t have the initial funds needed to allow them to go. The Mary Ann McCracken bursary provided the funds they needed to progress to Queen’s University to continue their education. This student is just one of over 80 supported last year. We are so proud of this programme of support, and we believe Mary Ann would be too.”