Schools of Sanctuary – Volunteers

Would  you like to  be part of the Schools of Sanctuary programme as a volunteer.

Since 2017, Belfast City of Sanctuary, the Intercultural Education Service, Education Authority and The Executive Office have been working together to support schools who want to make their school a place where every child feels safe and accepted regardless of what they believe, where they are from or what they look like, a place where cultural diversity is valued and celebrated. Please see the Belfast City of Sanctuary website and the Schools of Sanctuary resource pack.

They have been working with schools – nursery, primary and post primary from controlled, maintained, integrated and Irish medium schools and now have 74 schools across Belfast and Derry/Londonderry areas who have achieved their Schools of Sanctuary award through the Belfast city of Sanctuary after completing a Schools of Sanctuary programme with the Intercultural Education Service.

They are currently expanding the Schools of Sanctuary programme to 26 schools in the 2 council areas of ‘Mid Ulster’ and ‘Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon’ and are asking for your support. 

Would you be interested in becoming involved in the Schools of Sanctuary monitoring progress?

You may be involved with support groups such as cultural community groups, youth groups or churches. You may be from a diverse background, such as asylum seeker and refugee, who have had recent experience of schools or just have an interest in helping provide a safe space. 

You will receive training on the content of Schools of Sanctuary Programme and how to become a Schools of Sanctuary volunteer monitor in a range of schools. You will be mentored by experienced Schools of Sanctuary monitors from the Belfast City of Sanctuary. With support from the Education Authority, Intercultural Education Service, the new monitors will be asked to review a submission for the Schools of Sanctuary award in the form of a power point presentation and follow up with a short visit to 2 schools to ask questions about the powerpoint presentation.

If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a volunteer monitor with Schools of Sanctuary, please email:

Jane: jane.camara@eani.org.uk

or

Ellen: ellen.farren@eani.org.uk

An SoS volunteer monitor will be responsible for deciding if a school has done enough to achieve the SoS award along with an experienced SoS monitor who will guide them in what to look for. The monitors’ duties will be:

• Wednesday 21 May from 9.30 am – 10.30 am – attend an SoS monitor training on in a central location. From 10.30 am  – 2.45 pm read over a submitted action plan and 35 slide power point from a number of schools with an experienced monitor to check against a clear set of questions to see if criteria has been met. Sandwiches, fruit, tea and coffee will be provided at lunch time.

• Wednesday 28 May from 9.45 am – 12.45 pm Visit to schools – a monitor, an experienced monitor and an Education Authority officer will visit 2 schools that they have monitored to ask some questions. Schools will showcase their SoS journey.

• Tuesday 3 June from 9.45 am – 2.30 pm Visit to schools – a monitor, an experienced monitor and an Education Authority officer will visit 2 schools that they have monitored to ask some questions. Schools will showcase their SoS journey.

• Monitors will have an insight into the welcoming aspects of schools and how they promote inclusion in school and in the curriculum.

• They will be invited to share in the celebrations of schools that have done enough to win the SoS award in October 2025

Monitors will need to be available for all or most of the time above.

Monitors may come from our local community, either working with minority groups or retired. Some monitors will come from an asylum seeker or refugee background. All will have an interest in creating safe places in schools that welcome everyone.