Every Sunday at the Mary Peters Track in Belfast, the All Stars club gives athletes with intellectual disabilities the chance to compete in sports such as running, shot put, long jump and mini javelin.
Any given Sunday can be special
Like many clubs across Northern Ireland, it relies on volunteers to operate, and young people like Johnny Gillespie and Adam Scully are proving just how vital that support is.
Both 17-year-olds, from Methodist College, joined All Stars last year as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Awards and continue to help out every weekend.
“I’ve formed such a bond with all the athletes,” said Johnny. “And for just an hour every Sunday, it’s really not a big commitment. It’s been so fulfilling watching them grow in their confidence and ability.”
Special Olympics Ulster supports 1,100 athletes across 52 clubs, helping them to train, compete and even progress to national and international levels.
Opportunities wouldn’t be possible without volunteers. Whether you can commit some time every week or just want to help at a few events, your time can make a difference. To learn more about volunteering with Special Olympics Ulster, visit https://www.specialolympics
How much spend per pupil revealed
There’s always plenty of talk about the ‘spend per pupil’ in schools, but which sector of NI education comes out on top when the money’s handed out?
Looking specifically at primary schools, the Department of Education’s figures show that children educated in one sector fare much better than others in 2023-24 — sometimes to the tune of almost £2,000 per pupil annually.
Every year, £5,235 per pupil goes to the controlled Irish-medium sector, while £4,404 per pupil heads into the maintained Irish-medium sector.
Remaining sectors, covering the range of controlled, maintained and integrated, receive between £3,493 and £3,809 per pupil, according to department statistics.
Education Minister Paul Givan with Local Women Magazine Editor Kim Kelly
New awards for teachers
Behind every great student is a teacher who has nurtured and encouraged them to reach their full potential — and a new ‘teaching Oscars’ is set to honour the best of them.
The Local Women Magazine Education Awards 2025 will recognise educators who inspire, lead and make a lasting impact in their classrooms and beyond.
The idea is to honour the unsung heroes of the education system who devote their lives to shaping the minds of the next generation, often going above and beyond the call of duty.
Taking time out from pay negotiations amongst other pressing matters, Education Minister Paul Givan said the awards “recognise the achievements of teachers at various stages of their careers and in different roles across Northern Ireland”.
He added: “It is important that we take time to recognise the exceptional work going on in our classrooms. Through my role as Education Minister, I have had the pleasure of meeting many dedicated professionals in the teaching profession and their hard work is inspirational. They truly deserve to be recognised for their efforts.”