Speedwell Aims

Bringing Children Together…

Most of our children live in segregated housing and go to segregated schools.  Speedwell brings children together, thousands of children who would otherwise never have the opportunity to cross the sectarian divide. It is difficult to develop respect for people whom you never meet.  Speedwell is ensuring that the next generation do meet and are given a balance to the bigotry they may encounter elsewhere in their lives.

The Speedwell Trust engages with the wider school community to foster the development of respect and understanding between children, teachers and other adults, irrespective of their social, cultural or religious background. Speedwell works; children, teachers and parents have put their trust in us, our growth over the years speak for itself.

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Speedwell Trust makes a difference…

Speedwell’s environmental education and
community relations programmes enable Catholic and Protestant children to work and play together, explore the forest and learn about their shared environment.
- Children develop an understanding of mutual dependency, sustainability and diversity, as well as an awareness of issues such as conflict, competition and co-operation in both the natural and social world.
- Speedwell makes special provisions for children with physical and emotional disabilities.
- Speedwell’s Secret Garden offers all kinds of delights for children with special sensory, mobility and educational needs.
- Speedwell works with children and with schools to reach all parts of the community.

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Speedwell Trust is unique…

- Speedwell is the only voluntary organisation that caters solely for nursery, primary and special schools on a cross-community basis, thus providing an alternative form of integrated education.
- Speedwell brings children together from all communities in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties.
- Speedwell provides schools with unique and professional curriculum support of the highest quality.  We facilitate teachers, as well as children, in working together in a meaningful way.

Speedwell encourages independent learning through our innovative “hands on”environmental and community relations programmes.

Speedwell is helping to mould future citizens of Northern Ireland and the Border Counties who will not only have greater mutual understanding and respect for diversity but will have the common goal of looking after their shared world.

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