Education Minister has launched the second call for
project proposals to raise educational achievement and reduce
educational disadvantage under the RAISE programme.
Organisations are invited to submit project proposals that
address key educational priorities identified in the RAISE
Strategic Area Plans.
said: “Many of our children and
young people regularly face barriers to learning and achievement.
“The RAISE Programme empowers communities to work together to
address challenges rooted in deprivation and provides a
significant opportunity for organisations to be part of a
transformative, whole community approach to tackling educational
disadvantage.
“Moving forward with a second call for project proposals is a
significant step in the progress of the RAISE Programme and
represents a further investment of £2.7m towards addressing
barriers to learning. I would urge interested organisations
to submit proposals which can deliver positive outcomes for the
18 RAISE Localities, against the objectives set out within the
call documents.
“By working collectively, we can remove the barriers to learning
being experienced by children and young people across Northern
Ireland and help them reach their full potential.”
The RAISE Programme aims to raise educational achievement and
reduce educational disadvantage through a whole community,
place-based approach.
Further information, including the Strategic Area Plans can be
found at https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/articles/raise-strategic-area-plans and
Calls for Locality Led Projects at https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/articles/raise-call-locality-led-projects on
the Department of Education website.
Proposals must be submitted via the RAISE online platform by
12:00 PM on 22 April 2026. Late submissions will not be accepted.
The platform can be accessed at: https://raise.whole.school/project-bid-form/signup.
All applications will be assessed by a panel comprising
Department officials and external experts.
Notes to editors
1. The RAISE Programme is funded through the Shared Island Fund
and represents an investment of £20million/€24million over two
years from 2024 –2026, with the potential for further funding.
