Students from Queen’s Business School have participated in a transformative community impact project with Compass Advocacy Network, a Ballymoney-based charity supporting children and adults with learning disabilities, autism, and mental health challenges, to transform their facilities.  

Over 300 students took part in hands-on building work over a seven-day period revitalising and repurposing a vacant area of land at Lislagan Farm. The project included constructing a facility for social enterprise activities, and a community garden with sensory area for safe and imaginative play, learning, and relaxation.  

Professor M.N. Ravishankar, Dean and Head of Queen’s Business School said: “We were delighted to collaborate with Compass Advocacy Network. Engaging our students in a project with real societal impact enables us to give back to our local community.  

“As one of the leading business schools in the UK and Ireland, we have a duty to inject societal impact into our curriculum. Partnering with Splash Projects has provided us with the opportunity to support vital services for families on our doorstep.” 

Professor Julie McCandless, Director of Business Engagement from Queen’s Business School commented: “While this deserving charity benefitted from the extra hands to enhance their facilities, our students also gained invaluable experience. They had the opportunity to build relationships, boost their confidence and develop essential skills in teamwork, creative problem-solving, and project management.”  

Janet Schofield, CEO of Compass Advocacy Network, shared her enthusiasm: "This is an incredible initiative, and we are beyond thrilled that Splash Projects and Queen’s Business School chose to collaborate with Compass Advocacy Network. The impact on our community will be truly transformative. This magical garden and the woodworking shed will provide invaluable spaces for children and adults with learning disabilities, autism, and other neurodiversities—ranging in age from 8 to over 80—along with their families and carers. This will add even more magic to an already special place.” 

Queen’s Business School partnered with Splash Projects which delivers international team and leadership development programmes through community projects. The business school projects give students the chance to experience social impact first-hand with a small team of expert project facilitators guiding the students to build the infrastructure for the charity themselves. 

Splash Projects’ Project Manager Lloyd Comer who led the project said: “It’s been a pleasure to work with Queen’s Business School which has invested both in its students and its local community, creating a lasting legacy. 

“There are some things that can’t be taught in a classroom. Experiencing social impact first-hand is extremely powerful and while the lives of the children will have been positively impacted by this project, so will the lives of the students.”