SistersIN marks continued growth and impact through the support of The James Kane Foundation over the past 2 years

Pictured L-R: Aoibhe O'Reilly (Waterfront and Ulster Hall, SistersIN Alumni), Lucy (SistersIN Mentee, Banbridge Academy), Isobella (SistersIN Mentee, Victoria College, Belfast) & Caroline O'Neill (Digg for Success).

SistersIN is celebrating a year of significant growth and impact, made possible through the continued support of The James Kane Foundation.

Now ending year two of three of our engagement, the Foundation’s funding has played a key role in enabling the Leadership Programme to scale across Northern Ireland, reaching more schools, more young women, and more communities than ever before.

SistersIN Mentee speaking at the Inspiring Entrepreneurs event in partnership with Danske Bank.

Over the past year, SistersIN has expanded its reach to 60 schools, supporting nearly 800 female students aged 16-18, and over 750 female business mentors through its structured leadership programme. Built around three key strands: Leadership Modules, Leadership Projects, and Mentoring & Job Shadowing, the programme equips young women with the confidence, skills and support networks needed to navigate their future pathways.

The support from The James Kane Foundation has been instrumental not only in growing participation, but in strengthening the foundations of the programme itself. This includes enhancing delivery, improving accessibility, and supporting SistersIN’s long-term ambition to build a sustainable and scalable model that can continue to grow its impact year on year.

Pictured L-R: Emma Little Pengelly (deputy First Minister), Sophie Murray (SistersIN Mentee), Clodagh Conroy (SistersIN Mentee) & Michelle O'Neill (First Minister)

Beyond the numbers, the programme continues to deliver meaningful outcomes for participants. From increased confidence and self-belief to the development of leadership and communication skills, students are leaving the programme better equipped to step into future opportunities and leadership roles.

Director of Operations & Growth at SistersIN, Gillian McKeown, said:

“The support from The James Kane Foundation has been instrumental in how we’ve grown SistersIN over the past two years. It has allowed us not only to reach more schools and support more young women, but to strengthen the quality and consistency of the programme as we scale.

What’s been particularly powerful is seeing the impact behind the numbers, the confidence built, the leadership skills developed, and the ambition unlocked in each of our mentees. This funding has enabled us to move towards a more sustainable model, ensuring that even more young women across Northern Ireland can access these opportunities in the years ahead.”

Chair of The James Kane Foundation, Michael Wilson added:

“At The James Kane Foundation, we are committed to supporting initiatives that create meaningful, long-term impact. SistersIN is a powerful example of this in action, equipping young women with the confidence, transferable skills and support networks they need to thrive.”

Group of Mentees at ICC Belfast for Celebration Event Planning day.

As SistersIN looks ahead to the final year of this funding relationship, the focus remains on deepening impact, expanding access, and continuing to ensure that young women across Northern Ireland have the opportunity to realise their full potential.

To explore opportunities to support SistersIN, please reach out to our Director of Operations & Growth, Gillian at gmckeown@sisters-in.org for more information on how to get involved.