Certificates presented to volunteers at rugby, football and GAA clubs

Young volunteers from clubs taking part in the ‘Sport Uniting Communities’ programme have been recognised for their commitment to volunteering. The programme, which is supported by the European Union’s PEACE IV Programme, is run by Ulster Rugby, Ulster GAA and the Irish FA, with the Football Association of Ireland acting as an official project partner. Its overarching aim is to use the reach of each sport to create meaningful and sustained contact between people from different communities and to improve attitudes, respect, inclusion and tolerance. A volunteer development programme and a youth leadership programme are key elements of the initiative. Titanic Belfast was the venue for the first awards ceremony staged as part of the four-year project, which is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). Volunteers, aged 14 to 24, from 45 participating rugby, football and GAA clubs across Ulster, were recognised for their contributions to their respective sports. As part of SUC the young volunteers participate in the Volunteer Now Goldmark initiative, which has three sets of awards for volunteering: 50 hours, 100 hours and 200 hours. The 200-hour accolade is an award of excellence. At the ceremony in Belfast, certificates were handed out to those who have clocked up the hours within their chosen sport. And certificates were also presented to participants on the youth leadership programme, which is also part of SUC. Guests at the event, which was hosted by ITV’s Simon McIntyre, included Ulster Rugby President Stephen Elliot, Irish FA President David Martin and Ulster GAA President Michael Hasson. All three addressed the gathering and spoke about the importance of volunteering to the running of the three sports, especially at grassroots level. Three stars of the three codes took part in Q&A sessions. Ulster and Ireland rugby player Craig Gilroy, Northern Ireland futsal international Amber Dempster and Tyrone GAA captain Mattie Donnelly took to the stage. Representatives from three clubs supported by SUC were interviewed, too. Daniel Gavigan, City of Derry Rugby Club youth coach, Bill Anderson, Chairman of Irish League Premiership team Institute, and Suzanne Conlon, a coach with Tullylish GAC near Banbridge, all explained that SUC was helping them to roll out various programmes. The certificates were presented by Denise Hayward, CEO of Volunteer Now, and Mark Feeney from SEUPB. Since it was launched at the start of this year the Sport Uniting Communities project has engaged with thousands of people across Ulster through Game Of Three Halves events, a Good Relations Conference, a Syrian refugee project and local schools visiting the Nevin Spence Centre at the Kingspan Stadium. SUC activities are delivered by community sport development officers from the three governing bodies.