NEWS RELEASE – For Immediate Release

16 January, 2014

The annual Service of Prayers for Christian Unity will take place on Sunday 19th January 2014 at 3.00pm in Hazelwood Integrated College, Whitewell Road, Newtownabbey.

The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE) is very pleased that Hazelwood IC will host the Service of prayer for Christian Unity. The Service will be based on one drawn up by the Irish Council of Churches and the Catholic Church in Ireland. It will last for about 45 minutes and will be followed by light refreshments.

This is a chance for Integrated Schools to come together, along with Directors, Friends, Associates and Governors.

We hope some representatives from your school or organisation will be able to join us.

ENDS

For further information, please contact Cliodhna Scott-Wills, Senior Development Officer at NICIE, tel: 028 9097 2910, e-mail: cscott-wills@nicie.org.uk or Louise McIvor, Communications Secretary, tel: 028 9097 2910, e-mail: lmcivor@nicie.org.uk

Notes to the Editor

1. In Northern Ireland, about 93% of children attend schools which are either exclusively or predominantly Catholic or Protestant. The first integrated school, Lagan College, opened in 1981 with 28 pupils. There are currently 62 integrated schools in Northern Ireland, 20 second level colleges and 42 integrated primaries, altogether educating over 22,000 pupils.

2. A recent Millward Brown survey found that 83% of parents in Belfast believe that integrated education is a vital part of building a shared future in Northern Ireland. 72% of parents believe that funding for integrated education should be prioritised, with enough places available for those who wish to send their children to an integrated school.

3. Integrated schools are co-educational, accept children from all levels of ability and social backgrounds and practice a child-centred approach to teaching methods.

4. Established in 1987, the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE) is a voluntary organisation that was set up to develop, support and promote integrated education in Northern Ireland. The underpinning principle of integrated education is that by bringing together Catholic, Protestant and children of other faiths in a shared environment, they can learn to understand, respect and tolerate differences. For more information please visit www.nicie.org