Education Minister Paul Givan has confirmed more than £3.7 million to progress 61 Locality Led Projects under the RAISE Programme, a whole-community, place-based initiative to raise educational achievement and reduce disadvantage across Northern Ireland.

Minister Givan said: "I am pleased to announce that 61 Locality Led Projects have been selected to move forward to the next stage under the RAISE Programme. This represents a significant investment in our children, young people and local communities across Northern Ireland.

"This funding will not only help raise aspirations and achievement, but it will also enable communities to take a fresh look at the challenges caused by deprivation and work collectively to overcome them. "The RAISE Programme provides a powerful platform for collaboration, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed. It enables communities to come together to remove the barriers to learning and achievement that many of our children and young people continue to face.

"Today's announcement marks another important step forward in delivering the objectives set out in each of the RAISE Locality Strategic Area Plans. I look forward to seeing the positive difference this investment will make for children and young people across Northern Ireland."

The £3.7 million package will support projects that promote educational excellence, raise standards, improve pupil attendance and develop clearer pathways for learners, particularly those at risk of underachievement.

The Locality Led Projects deliver against objectives in the Strategic Area Plans for each of the 18 RAISE localities, following a call for proposals that opened on 5 September and closed on 6 October. Letters of Offer will be agreed between the Department and relevant organisations in the coming weeks.

The RAISE Programme is also in receipt of €20 million from the Government of Ireland's Shared Island Initiative.