A charitable organisation is to take over the running of the Isle of Man Children’s University.

Connect2Charity will operate the Children’s University after this summer’s graduation ceremony.

Budgetary pressures led to the Department of Education and Children announcing in December that it would wind down the initiative.

Isle of Man Children’s University forms part of an international organisation. Children aged five to 14 collect stamps in passports for attending extra-curricular activities – both in school and at accredited learning destinations in their leisure time. Reaching milestones leads to ‘graduation’.

Connect2Charity runs the Island’s largest register of charities and operates the Mobile and Family Libraries. It’s the primary sponsor, alongside Culture Vannin, of the Manx Flower Festival.

Tim Crookall MLC, Minister for Education and Children, said: ‘We are pleased that the Isle of Man Children’s University will continue and grateful to Connect2Charity, whose principals successfully worked with us on the transition and development of the Mobile and Family Libraries when we ceased to fund them in 2012.’

Kurt Roosen, Chairman of Connect2Charity, said: ‘We are looking forward to the new challenge and have enthusiastic volunteers waiting in the wings – not just to take over operations, but to develop ideas and initiatives.

‘We are already looking at how we might use the skills we support in the Manx ICT Association’s Code Club to replace paper passports with virtual backpacks and merit badges. I am discussing this with the Children’s University in the UK.’

Mr Roosen added: ‘The Isle of Man is a tremendous supporter of the charitable sector, but we are always looking for sponsors and donations to boost the work we do.’

He can be contacted at kurt.roosen@connect2charity.im or by phone at 01624 827030.