The Community Archaeology Programme NI (CAPNI) was officially launched in February 2024, made possible with a grant of more than £600,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to the Centre for Community Archaeology (CCA) at Queen’s University Belfast.

The programme builds on the foundations laid by the CCA over many years across Belfast and beyond. This includes a number of programmes in partnership with the community in the Greater Shankill, exploring the rich historical and archaeological heritage in the area, and providing school children with hands-on experience of archaeological exploration.

For example, pupils from Glenwood Primary School and Belfast Boys Model School joined staff and students from Queen’s University to experience an archaeological excavation at the historic Stranmillis College site.

Following on from this, a CAPNI School Hub event allowed P7 primary school pupils to get a hands on introduction into Archaeology and gain a deeper understanding of the heritage of the Shankill Road.