PRESS RELEASE IMAGE
Press Eye Ltd
Thursday 17th December 2015
Photographer William Cherry/ Press Eye
SPORT NORTHERN IRELAND
PRESS RELEASE
17 December 2015
Sport Northern Ireland Announces 2016 ÔPromoting Good Relations Through SportÕ initiative
Sports Minister Carl N Chuiln and Sport Northern Ireland are inviting grassroots sports clubs and community organisations to enhance good relations work in their area with the help of dedicated workshops and sports kitbags worth £1,000.
Good relations workshops will take place across Northern Ireland in early 2016. They will give coaches and volunteers practical ideas and activities to promote health, wellbeing and inclusiveness through sport, and the sports kitbags will enable participants to put these ideas into practice.
Sports clubs and organisations interested in availing of the workshops and the limited number of kitbags can register their interest by completing a short online survey on the Sport Northern Ireland website www.sportni.net.
The workshops and kitbags are being offered in collaboration with the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure and OFMDFM in support of the ExecutiveÕs Together: Building a United Community Strategy. The Strategy recognises the important role that sport plays in promoting and enhancing good relations between all sections of our society.
Sports Minister Carl N Chuiln welcomed the announcement:
ÒSport plays a central role in our communities. Playing sport boosts physical and mental health and self-esteem while bringing together people of all ages and backgrounds. I firmly believe that sport is a powerful tool to promote equality and tackle poverty and social exclusion. This initiative, delivered by Sport NI and funded by my Department through the ExecutiveÕs TBUC strategy, will enable sports clubs to access brand new equipment and receive training on how to promote good relations and use sport as a positive driver. I urge clubs, particularly those serving marginalised and disadvantaged communities, to apply for bags and training on offer.Ó
Inviting clubs and community organisations to take part in this good relations initiative, Sport NI Chair Brian Henning commented:
ÒSport NI is committed to helping people to enjoy, engage and excel in sport because sport and physical activity improves lives and society. Sport not only enhances our health and mental wellbeing, it also enriches our communities by offering opportunities to involve and include people from across different social