BBC Children in Need funding supports after school homework club in Belfast

Ledley Hall Boys and Girls Club provides an after school homework club for children up to age 15 in east Belfast.

The center uses funding from BBC Children in Need to offer a safe environment where children can complete schoolwork, play pool, and socialize with friends. The club operates four days a week and serves as a resource for local families who may be at work or lack the confidence to help their children with school assignments.

The club employs a part time teacher and a classroom assistant to supervise the students. Senior youth worker Michelle Fullerton says the informal setting helps young people who might not enjoy a traditional school environment. The program also helps improve educational standards in an area where local statistics are currently poor. The club charges a nominal fee of 50p per child, which allows the center to provide professional academic support that would otherwise be much more expensive for parents.

Caitlin McAlinden, a special needs teacher who works at the club, says the center helps children build social connections with peers from different schools. The club is part of a broader initiative where BBC Children in Need provides 5.5 million pounds to support about 100 projects across Northern Ireland. These projects aim to reach more than 25,000 children and young people in the region.