February 8th, 2017 | NEWS
The Sport Changes Life Foundation (SCLF) has announced funding from Belfast City Council for their Schools Outreach Honour Roll Programme, at a launch with Lord Mayor Alderman Brian Kingston at Malone Integrated College.
Sport Changes Life Foundation is a registered UK charity and US nonprofit organisation, co-founded by Ulster University and Chaka Travel, which works in disadvantaged communities to help young people find a path to a brighter future.
Speaking of the launch Gareth Maguire, CEO of Sport Changes Life.
“Sport Changes Life is delighted to have received Belfast City Council funding to provide opportunities to help inspire young people,”
“Thanks to this partnership, we’re now able to deliver this programme to 10 schools in Belfast. Our Honour Roll programme works with young people who have disengaged from school life and helps them to build a positive relationship with education. We’re also very fortunate to be able to draw on the experience of our founding partner Ulster University and the Ulster Sports Outreach team.
“Our most recent partner, the Rory Foundation, set up by golfer Rory McIlroy, has given us a platform to reach into various communities and create awareness and understanding of the work we do. We’re thrilled to have Rory on board as a global ambassador as he’s a fantastic role model for the young people we work with.”
The Sport Changes Life Foundation’s international student-athletes, the ‘Victory Scholars’ help deliver the schools and community outreach programme.
Barry Funston, Chief Executive of the Rory Foundation said:
“In the past year working with the Sport Changes Life Foundation, we’ve witnessed the fantastic experience the Victory Scholars have been getting throughout Ireland and Northern Ireland. Now we’re looking forward to seeing how the Victory Scholars use that experience in Belfast to inspire young people through this prestigious schools programme, thanks to funding from Belfast City Council.”
Lord Mayor, Alderman Brian Kingston said:
“I’m a passionate supporter of sports as an exciting, motivational tool for encouraging personal growth and I’m very much looking forward to seeing how our funding for the Sport Changes Life Honour Roll Programme helps to engage the young people who participate in 10 Belfast schools.
“We’re also supporting the Sport Changes Life community outreach programme EHOOPS, which provides mentoring support and training and employment opportunities which is very much in line with what we’re working to achieve through the Belfast Agenda – improved quality of life, access to opportunities and a city where everyone can achieve their potential.”
For more information on the Sports Changes Life Foundation and their programmes, visit www.sportschangeslife.com
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
About Sport Changes Life:
The primary goal of the Sport Changes Life Foundation is to provide an opportunity for raising the aspiration of young people on both sides of the Atlantic so that they can live out their dreams and guide them as sport changes their lives. We are a sports foundation built on inspiration, hope and victory. SCL works in disadvantaged communities to help young people find a path to a brighter future with the help of our international student-athletes, the Victory Scholars. In February 2016, SCL formally partnered with Rory McIlroy charity the Rory Foundation, as both foundations strive together to help change the lives of young people on the island of Ireland and beyond.
For more information on the Sport Changes Life Foundation:
Visit us online: www.sportchangeslife.com
… on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SportChangesLifeFoundation
… on Twitter/Instagram: @Sportchanges @Victoryscholars
… or call 00 44 28 9045 4964
About the Rory Foundation:
The Rory Foundation was established in 2013 to help children live better lives, to raise funds and offer support to children’s charities with a special meaning and purpose for Rory. Beneficiaries of the Rory Foundation so far include the Cancer Fund for Children, Mencap NI and Sport Changes Life (all based in Northern Ireland), Barretstown, the Jack & Jill Foundation and LauraLynn Children’s Hospice. The Rory Foundation will host the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open for the third year in 2017.
Sport Changes Life Foundation Media Contact:
Marc Mulholland
00 44 28 9045 4964
m.mulholland@sportchangeslife.com
Rory Foundation Media Contact:
Aileen Gaskin, The Communications Clinic
00353 87 7724 717
aileen@communicationsclinic.ie
Belfast City Council Media Contact:
Media Relations Office, Belfast City Council
Telephone 00 44 28 9027 0646 or 00 44 28 9027 0221
Copies of all Belfast City Council media releases can be downloaded from our website, www.belfastcity.gov.uk/news
Out of hours telephone number for Belfast City Council press office: 07917 458070
