Pictured (L-R) are Lucy McGonigle (Regent House Grammar School), Sport for Good ambassador and Commonwealth gold medallist Rhys McClenaghan, and Angela Connan (Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Lidl Northern Ireland). 

Lidl Northern Ireland has gone to top of the class after awarding 40 secondary schools, including Regent House in Newtownards, £3,000 worth of vouchers each to secure essential brand-new sports equipment as part of the retailer’s Sport for Good initiative, which aims to encourage and support young people to make the most of the physical and mental benefits of sport participation.

Representing an investment of £120,000, 40 schools – one for every Lidl Northern Ireland store in December 2020 – across all six counties are set to benefit from the boost. 

Championed by sporting legends including Commonwealth pommel horse champion Rhys McClenaghan, national record-holding runner Ciara Mageean, Paralympic swimmer Bethany Firth MBE and Irish national hockey team captain Katie Mullan, the programme aims to shine a light on mental health and the positive role sport can play.

Sport for Good Ambassador and Commonwealth and European Champion gymnast Rhys McClenaghan said:

“With 1 in 4 young people in Northern Ireland struggling with their mental health, I am passionate about championing participation in sport as a great way to boost your self-esteem, body confidence and social skills. Not only that, but sport is a great way to build up a life-long support system of friends and mentors.

Thanks to Lidl Northern Ireland and the Sport for Good programme, thousands of pupils will have access to the best new sporting equipment, and I look forward to seeing all of the athletes progress in achieving their personal goals.”

Launched in 2019, the Lidl Community Works Sport for Good programme has now delivered funding of almost £300,000 to local sports clubs and schools across Northern Ireland.

 The Sport for Good programme is just one of Lidl Northern Ireland’s many initiatives to support communities across Northern Ireland. In October 2020, the retailer announced a second extension to its charity partnership with NSPCC Northern Ireland to 2022 and committed to an increased funding target of £600,000 in this time. Initially established in 2017, the partnership has delivered more than £400,000 worth of funding to date in support of the vital services that NSPCC Northern Ireland delivers across the region.

For more information, please visit lidl-ni.co.uk/lidl-community-works.