Oakgrove Integrated College, Derry

This all-ability co-educational integrated college seeks to draw students in roughly equal numbers to reflect the diversity of its community and bring young people together to help promote reconciliation in the area.  However, due to rising costs of living, growing numbers of students find increasing areas of life to be ‘out of reach’.  With just over 50% of pupils eligible for FSM, Oakgrove has already fund-raised for canteen food, free fruit for breakfast, etc. but now sought help with costs such as repeat examination fees and access to school events.  Learning that staff have been subsidising some student activities, the Committee agreed a grant of £1,000 from the NW Schools’ Fund to help with various miscellaneous expenses.