Heywood Community School named as Lidl Ireland #SeriousSupport participant

HEYWOOD Community School has been named as one of 26 schools selected to participate in the LIDL Ireland #SeriousSupport Schools Programme for the 2024-2025 school year.

Now in its seventh year, this programme continues to highlights positive impacts of sport on mental and physical health.

Supported by the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) and delivered by Youth Sport Trust and their specially trained athlete mentors, all of whom are current or former inter-county ladies Gaelic football players, the programme is designed to educate teenage girls about the positive mental and physical health benefits of playing sport.

The programme, which is delivered through workshops and team-building sessions, aims to increase participation and reduce drop-out rates for teenagers in the sport. Twenty-six schools across Ireland will have the opportunity to benefit from the programme along with receiving a brand-new set of jerseys for their school team.

This year's programme is delivered by a stellar lineup of LGFA intercounty players: Anne Marie Donan (Kildare), Deirdre O’Reilly (Cork), Eilish Ward (Donegal), Laurie Ryan (Clare), Leah Caffrey (Dublin), Lucy Hannon (Galway), Méabh De Búrca (Galway), Niamh McEvoy (Dublin), Samantha Lambert (Tipperary) and Therese McNally (Monaghan).

LGFA President, Mícheál Naughton said: "We are once again honoured to announce the schools participating in Lidl’s #SeriousSupport Schools Programme, along with the list of athlete mentors who offer invaluable support and expertise year on year.

“These athlete mentors are inter-county stars, serving as role models within their communities and counties, and they will share their invaluable insights with the students involved in the programme.

“Feedback from previous programmes has been outstanding, with students gaining essential skills that assist them in their daily lives, especially at such a formative stage. I can't think of better individuals to learn from than our athlete mentors, who have experienced and achieved so much. I would like to acknowledge the exceptional work of Lidl Ireland in bringing this programme to life and Youth Sport Trust for their continued assistance in its rollout."

Youth Sport Trust Chief Executive Ali Oliver MBE said: “The Youth Sport Trust is proud to be working with Lidl Ireland and the Ladies Gaelic Football Association to deliver the programme. Far too many children in the Republic of Ireland are not achieving the recommended levels of physical activity, and we know from our research teenage girls in particular face a number of barriers which can affect their participation.

“By empowering more girls to be active, this programme is making an important contribution to widening access to the benefits which come from taking part in play and sport including improved wellbeing, resilience and the development of life skills.

We are delighted to be working with two organisations who share our values and through this partnership we will support more girls to be active so they can access the life changing benefits of sport and play.