PEACEPLUS ASPIRE Christmas Choir warms hearts at Shopping Centre

The event showcased not only beautiful singing but also inclusivity, with pupils using Makaton sign language during renditions of Little Donkey and Jingle Bells.  Parents, staff, and governors from both schools gathered to celebrate this unique collaboration. 

Maria Hackett, governor at Roan St Patrick’s Primary School, reflected on the joyful occasion:

“Absolutely brilliant to see this today. The experience for the pupils joining up with a special school has been magical.”

John O’Hare, Vice Principal of Sperrinview Special School, highlighted the impact:

“PEACEPLUS ASPIRE has helped our pupils become more involved in their local community and this project has broken down barriers. Both Sperrinview Special School and Roan St Patrick’s Primary School want to create an inclusive world, and our pupils coming together has certainly helped this.”

PEACEPLUS ASPIRE (Advancing Shared Partnerships through Inclusive Relationships in Education) is led by the Education Authority (EA), alongside Léargas, Early Years- the organisation for young children, National Childhood Network (NCN) and the Fermanagh Trust. The project is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). It aims to provide direct and sustained contact between children and young people from all backgrounds.