About Us

Escape has been created to support the work of local primary and secondary schools in raising the levels of educational attainment in the Bogside, Brandywell, Creggan, and Fountain areas of Derry. These areas are designated a Neighbourhood Renewal area, known locally as TRIAX. Having suffered greatly for many years from the effects of deprivation, local communities have spearheaded the way for moving the communities away from the causes and effects of deprivation.

Escape is an out-of-school study support centre linked to Derry City FC and modelled on the extremely successful and well established Playing for Success (Pfs) initiative in England. The centre will be the first of its kind in Ireland and will support the excellent ongoing work of local schools to raise the levels of educational attainment in the area.  The Escape Project is situated in the Brandywell area of Derry, and is a short distance from the Brandywell Stadium, home ground of Derry City FC.

The core areas of learning are Literacy, Numeracy and ICT, and this reflects recent developments within the Northern Ireland Curriculum. The centre is equipped with 20 personal computers, interactive white boards, and plans are under way to create a Mac Suite, which will house three apple mac computers.

The project appointed the Centre Manager in April 2009 and an administration officer in May 2009. The doors to the centre were first opened to pupils in July 2009, when 40 pupils became involved in the first phase of the pilot programme.