In her latest blog, our Director Julia shines a light on the opportunities the return of Erasmus+ will create for people and culture in the North East.

Despite the dreary weather, one announcement that has definitely cheered me up is the UK Government’s announcement that it will rejoin the Erasmus+ programme in 2027.

My first opportunities to travel abroad came through cultural initiatives funded by Erasmus+, so my belief that international connections and experiences lead to broader aspirations, more opportunity and greater cultural capital, comes from personal experience.

This belief was cemented by many years working in international cultural relations, where understanding, trust and new ideas germinate much faster through international dialogue.

Prior to my return to the North East to lead Into the Light, I worked alongside County Durham’s Education team to bring pupils and teachers from four Durham Schools (Greenfield Academy, Hermitage Academy, St John’s School and Wolsingham School), to work with schools across Europe and develop international commemorations for the centenary of World War I.

Durham pupils and fellow students from the UK and France meet VIPs, Somme Centenary, July 2016

Crucially, those partnerships could be sustained and strengthened through Erasmus+ and the brilliant e-twinning programme, supporting pupil engagement and attainment over time.

More recently, I have seen how a model developed through inspiration and collaboration with Perform[d]ance in North-East Germany has helped our Into the Light partner TIN Arts, to develop PULSE – an innovative response to the challenge of bringing high-quality creative experiences to children in rural or isolated schools - offering new ways to support the science curriculum.

The amazing touring PULSE project - by TIN Arts - showcased in primary schools around the county

With the Government’s announcement, the Campaign for Erasmus+ continues with support for institutions to raise awareness of how it supports community and education initiatives across a wide range or areas and sectors.

The brilliant Funded by Erasmus website shows that from 2014 to 2020, County Durham schools and community groups received over £3m in funding for exchanges and development. This is in addition to funding for Higher Education programmes, where the programme was perhaps better known.

Here at Into the Light, we will aim to support more organisations to access the new Erasmus+, so that more people can benefit from the life-changing opportunities of international exchange.

Greenfield Academy https://greenfieldacademy.org.uk/

Hermitage Academy https://www.hermitageacademy.co.uk/

St John’s School https://stjohns.bhcet.org.uk/

Wolsingham School https://wolsinghamschool.net/

Erasmus+ https://fundedbyerasmus.co.uk/