From debt support to health: School's one-stop shop

From debt advice to cancer support and organisations for Muslim pupils and parents - usually accessing these services would take internet searches and several phone calls.

But a south Belfast primary school has brought all those services together, and more, as a one-stop shop for the benefit of the local community.

Cranmore Integrated Primary School set up their "community day" after seeing families in need of help or support outside the classroom, increasingly turning to schools.

This means that teachers and schools are often the gateway for families to other services.

Paul Kane, who has three children at the school, is someone who knows the importance of access to these organisations.

"Having come through a period of homelessness in my own life and having to rely on food banks when I was much younger, it's actually refreshing to see my kids realising that they can support people in their community by donating to the food bank through the school," he said.

"Giving back to the community in which families can help, that's a big message to the children."

He added that schools are "a portal to what's going on out there" for families.

Teacher Andrew Duggan, one of the organisers, told BBC News NI families are not always aware of the support that's available in the local community.

"Next to parents, teachers spend the most time with children.

"So when parents need support they'll pop their heads in and say 'do you know anybody I can speak to about this or that? Can you put us in touch with the right person?'

"That really was one of the big parts of organising something like this."

For Joanne Adair, this sense of community was one of the reasons she chose to send her children to Cranmore.

"It's a great wee school," she said.

"It's great to see so many different organisations and churches coming here.

"This brings it all together and makes you aware of what there is on your own doorstep."

She said the fair was a reminder of changes since her own schooldays.

"Me and my husband are from different community backgrounds and the way we went to school in the 90s, this is very different for our children going to school now," she told BBC News NI.

"They probably think it was really archaic the way we went to school, you know, very segregated communities.

"We didn't live very far apart from each other, but very segregated for most of our lives.

"They just have a much wider range of education in terms of faiths and cultures and stuff and I just think it's just lovely.

"There's not this fear of something that's different, because you've just grown up with each other."

According to statistics published by the Department of Education (DE), Cranmore's 240 pupils are almost equally from Protestant, Catholic and other backgrounds.

So representatives of local churches, who offer services to families and youth groups for children, had stalls in the school hall alongside the Northern Ireland Islamic Society.

Hiba Haj Omer is a member of school staff and also has children at the school.

"In the beginning when I came here to Northern Ireland I was worried, especially with my kids to adapt," she said.

"But when I came here to Cranmore School I felt very comfortable.

"The school is really integrated and respectful for everyone.

"It's really helpful for us."

During the month of March Hiba is observing Ramadan, which means fasting during daylight hours.

Heba Barghash, who came to Northern Ireland from Egypt, is also observing Ramadan and was answering questions about it at the community day.

"It gives the students more information, and also to be aware of the culture for their Muslim friends in the same school," she told BBC News NI.

She also said that schools were really important in helping pupils and families feel welcome if they came into a new country.

"When any school asks us to come and visit to help with this, it makes really the students feel more comfortable," she said.

"Once we visit them they feel ok, we are here, we are one of the society."