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Asda Foundation - Belfast Mini World Cup
Belfast, Northern Ireland: Thursday 10 July 2014 -
The Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Máire Hendron, wrapped up the successful ‘Asda Foundation Mini World Cup’, held yesterday at the Whiterock Leisure Centre, by presenting trophies and medals to young people who participated in the tournament.
The cross-community tournament featuring teams from North and West Belfast was run by Active Communities Network - a UK-wide youth and community development charity who work with a variety of partners to tackle poverty and social deprivation at the heart of neighbourhoods using sport for development – and featured volunteers and football coaches from Ballymurphy and the lower Shankill Road.
The tournament was part of an ongoing relationship between the Asda Foundation – a charitable trust established by leading retailer Asda – and Active Communities Network. The partnership, which was launched earlier this year, supports the outreach work of Active Communities Network into areas with high social deprivation, targeting some of Northern Ireland’s most ‘at risk’ young people and delivering clear progression pathways into citizenship and employment.
The programme specifically targets areas of North and West Belfast and sees Asda’s Community Life Champions and colleagues from Asda Shore Road and Asda Westwood mentor young people, shadowing them during sport and youth work programmes as well as offering them work placement opportunities.
The aim of the Asda Foundation Mini World Cup was to engage young people not affiliated to any sporting club in a positive community event together and featured 32 boys and girls U16 seven-a-side football teams – each taking a name of a World Cup team competing in Brazil.
Yesterday saw the final 16 teams compete for glory at the Whiterock Leisure Centre following the first round of competition in North and West Belfast at the Hammer 3G pitch and the Whiterock Leisure Centre last week.
NIFL Danske Bank Premiership and Glentoran midfielder Mark Clarke joined the Deputy Mayor, fellow footballers David ‘Dee Dee’ McAllister and Eamon McAllister and Scott Gillespie, Community Life Champion at Asda Shore Road, to present the prizes with Team Bosnia running out as overall winners of the cup tournament, closely followed by runners-up Team Uruguay, whilst the shield was won by Team Nigeria.
The tournament also launched the Active Communities Network summer programme which will feature a variety of free activities across Belfast until the end of August.
Mark Copeland, Belfast Project Manager, Active Communities Network said:
“For Active Communities Network this event demonstrates how sport can facilitate positive participation and engagement bringing communities together. The young people have been exemplary in their attitude and central to the success of the event.
“They are a credit to the communities they represent. We see this flagship event with Asda as a kick start to our summer programme across the city and underpins our employability pathway programmes beginning in September.”
Jason Haveron, Coach, Active Communities Network said:
“It was great to see young people from North and West Belfast come together to celebrate the World Cup and enjoy playing some competitive, but fair, football.
“Having the Deputy Lord Mayor here and the professional footballers really shows the young people that they have support they need to progress in life and we look forward to working with them all, and others, throughout the summer and in the future.”
Julie Ward, Asda Foundation Manager said:
“We’re delighted that so many young people came out over the last two weeks to take part in the first ‘Asda Foundation Mini World Cup’ tournament.
“As part of our on-going partnership with Active Communities Network, our Community Life Champions at Asda Shore Road and Asda Westwood have been working closely with the organisers to help deliver this event and we’re thrilled that it has been such a success with plenty of fun had by all.”
Asda Foundation - Belfast Mini World Cup
Belfast, Northern Ireland: Thursday 10 July 2014 -
The Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Máire Hendron, wrapped up the successful ‘Asda Foundation Mini World Cup’, held yesterday at the Whiterock Leisure Centre, by presenting trophies and medals to young people who participated in the tournament.
The cross-community tournament featuring teams from North and West Belfast was run by Active Communities Network - a UK-wide youth and community development charity who work with a variety of partners to tackle poverty and social deprivation at the heart of neighbourhoods using sport for development – and featured volunteers and football coaches from Ballymurphy and the lower Shankill Road.
The tournament was part of an ongoing relationship between the Asda Foundation – a charitable trust established by leading retailer Asda – and Active Communities Network. The partnership, which was launched earlier this year, supports the outreach work of Active Communities Network into areas with high social deprivation, targeting some of Northern Ireland’s most ‘at risk’ young people and delivering clear progression pathways into citizenship and employment.
The programme specifically targets areas of North and West Belfast and sees Asda’s Community Life Champions and colleagues from Asda Shore Road and Asda Westwood mentor young people, shadowing them during sport and youth work programmes as well as offering them work placement opportunities.
The aim of the Asda Foundation Mini World Cup was to engage young people not affiliated to any sporting club in a positive community event together and featured 32 boys and girls U16 seven-a-side football teams – each taking a name of a World Cup team competing in Brazil.
Yesterday saw the final 16 teams compete for glory at the Whiterock Leisure Centre following the first round of competition in North and West Belfast at the Hammer 3G pitch and the Whiterock Leisure Centre last week.
NIFL Danske Bank Premiership and Glentoran midfielder Mark Clarke joined the Deputy Mayor, fellow footballers David ‘Dee Dee’ McAllister and Eamon McAllister and Scott Gillespie, Community Life Champion at Asda Shore Road, to present the prizes with Team Bosnia running out as overall winners of the cup tournament, closely followed by runners-up Team Uruguay, whilst the shield was won by Team Nigeria.
The tournament also launched the Active Communities Network summer programme which will feature a variety of free activities across Belfast until the end of August.
Mark Copeland, Belfast Project Manager, Active Communities Network said:
“For Active Communities Network this event demonstrates how sport can facilitate positive participation and engagement bringing communities together. The young people have been exemplary in their attitude and central to the success of the event.
“They are a credit to the communities they represent. We see this flagship event with Asda as a kick start to our summer programme across the city and underpins our employability pathway programmes beginning in September.”
Jason Haveron, Coach, Active Communities Network said:
“It was great to see young people from North and West Belfast come together to celebrate the World Cup and enjoy playing some competitive, but fair, football.
“Having the Deputy Lord Mayor here and the professional footballers really shows the young people that they have support they need to progress in life and we look forward to working with them all, and others, throughout the summer and in the future.”
Julie Ward, Asda Foundation Manager said:
“We’re delighted that so many young people came out over the last two weeks to take part in the first ‘Asda Foundation Mini World Cup’ tournament.
“As part of our on-going partnership with Active Communities Network, our Community Life Champions at Asda Shore Road and Asda Westwood have been working closely with the organisers to help deliver this event and we’re thrilled that it has been such a success with plenty of fun had by all.”