Communities Minister Has Announced an Increased
Investment of £3 Million for the Innovative Your School Your Club
Programme.
Your School Your Club Ysyc) Is a Department for Communities
Funded Initiative, Delivered in Partnership Between Sport Ni and
the Education Authority, That Opens up School Sports Facilities
for Use by Local Communities and Sports Clubs Outside of Normal
School Hours.
The Programme Helps Schools Upgrade or Adapt Their Pitches, Halls
and Other Sports Spaces so They Can Be Safely and Effectively
Shared, Increasing Access to Quality Facilities and Supporting
Greater Participation in Sport Across Northern Ireland.
The Investment Will Enhance Facilities at Eight Local Schools,
Expanding Capacity for Local Clubs and Community Organisations to
Access High‑quality Sports Facilities.
Speaking After a Visit to Belfast High School, the Minister Said:
I Am Delighted to Announce the Next Phase of Your School,
Your Club Which Will Enable Eight Schools to Improve and Enhance
Their Sports Facilities.
This Significant Investment Will Not Only Benefit Pupils
at These Schools, but It Will Also Provide Local Clubs and
Community Members Access to High Quality Facilities After the
School Gates Normally Close.
This Is a Transformative Initiative, Delivered Through My
Department's Arm's Length Body, Sport Ni and Demonstrates the
Power of Two Stormont Departments Working Together. This Program
Enhances and Improves Existing Facilities Across the School
Estate and Encourages More People to Get Active.”
This Year's Investment Will Enable Installation of Either
Floodlights or Artificial Grass Pitches at the Eight
Participating Schools.
The Minister Was Joined at Belfast High School by Education
Minister .
Minister Givan Said: Taking Part in Sports Can Build
Self-esteem and Motivation to Learn, As Well Develop a Strong
Sense of Belonging.
Partnerships like Your School Your Club Enable Our
Resources to Be Utilised Effectively to Enhance Sports Facility
Provision That Supports Both Schools and the Wider
Community.
I Welcome This Investment in Facilities at Eight Schools
Across Northern Ireland. I Have No Doubt This Will Bring
Physical, Social, and Emotional Benefits, Not Only for Our
Children and Young People, but for All of Society.”
Richard Archibald, Interim Ceo Sport Ni Said: The Ability to
Access Good Sports Facilities Within Local Areas Is Vital to Any
Sporting Organisation, yet Many Clubs Struggle to Find Suitable
Places to Train and Compete. Thanks to Your School Your Club We
Are Improving School Sports Facilities Across Northern Ireland
and Opening Them up to the Wider Community, Providing More
Opportunities for People of All Ages and Abilities to Participate
in Sport.”
Belfast High School, One of the Schools to Avail of the Funding,
Will Receive a New G Carpet for Its Existing Facility. This
Investment Will Significantly Increase Available Usage Hours for
the Wider Newtownabbey and Jordanstown Community and Help Meet
Local Demand for Hockey, Football, and Other Sports, As Well As
Broader Community Use.
Principal of Belfast High School, Mrs Charlotte Weir Said:
We Are Delighted That Our Application for Funding for the
Replacement Carpet for the G Full Size Synthetic Pitch has
Been Successful and We Are Looking Forward to the Extensive Use
That It Will Have, Both by Our Own Pupils and from a Range of
Groups in Our Local Community, Including Pupils from the Special
Schools in Our Learning Community, Boys and Girls from Mini-rugby
Clubs and of Course the Range of Hockey Events in Collaboration
with Ulster Hockey.This Would Not Have Been Possible Without the
Support of Sportni and the Department for Communities and We Look
Forward to Working with Them to Have the Pitch in Operation in
the Summer Term.”
Notes to Editors:
- Schools to Benefit in the Latest Phase of the Your School,
Your Club Programme Are:
- Belfast High School Installation of G Surface - £239,998
- St Ronan's College Installation of Floodlights
- £444,857
- Abbey Christian Brothers - Installation of G Surface -
£588,240
- Abbey Community College - Installation of Floodlights
-£200,000
- St Ciaran's College - Installation of G Surface -£255,400
- St Patrick's College - Installation of G Pitch
- £643,400
- Castlederg High School - Replacement G Surface - £270,726
- Tullygally Primary School - Installation of G Pitch -
£318,987
