Antrim’s Alliance Amateur Swim Club wins £1,000 Hafner’s Sports Fund boost

Members of Alliance Amateur Swim club, winners of the £1000 Hafner’s Sports Grant.

Alliance Amateur Swim Club has been awarded £1,000 through the Hafner’s Sausages Sports Fund 2025, as part of a £5,000 initiative supporting grassroots sport across Northern Ireland.

The Antrim-based club is one of five local organisations to receive the funding, alongside North Down Softball Club in Bangor, St Patrick’s Football Club in Castlederg, Redmond O’Hanlon’s GAC in Poyntzpass, and Enniskillen Rangers Football Club.

Now in its second year, the Hafner’s Sports Fund recognises the vital role grassroots clubs play in promoting physical activity, wellbeing and community connection, while helping to remove barriers to participation.

Alliance Amateur Swim club, winners of the £1000 Hafner’s Sports Grant.

Established in 1946, Alliance Amateur Swim Club has grown into a thriving organisation supporting more than 440 swimmers, ranging from complete beginners to experienced competitors.

The club works across communities including North Belfast and Newtownabbey, where financial pressures can limit access to swimming lessons and organised sport.

Damian Curran, a member of the club committee, highlighted the impact the funding will have at community level.

He said:

“At its core, the club is driven by a mission to remove barriers to accessing swimming, particularly in communities where financial pressures can restrict participation. This is especially critical in areas such as North Belfast and Newtownabbey, where socioeconomic challenges often prevent families from accessing lessons.

“We’re delighted to have Hafner’s backing for our community swimming programmes. This grant will directly help children and families who might otherwise be unable to afford swimming lessons. Learning to swim is a life-saving skill, and Hafner’s support ensures we can continue making water a safe, welcoming place for everyone.”

Sarah Harvey (2nd from right), Arthur Mallon Foods, owners of Hafner’s Sausages, is joined by members of the North Down Softball Club (l to r) Gemma O’Keefe, Matty Connor,  and Will Gilpin, celebrating their £1000 Hafner’s Sports Grant.

The Hafner’s Sports Fund is run by Arthur Mallon Foods, owners of Hafner’s Sausages, and is designed to celebrate the volunteers and leaders who foster teamwork, inclusion and confidence through sport.

Sarah Harvey, Senior Brand Manager at Arthur Mallon Foods, said the quality of applications made selecting the winners particularly challenging.

She said:

“Having spent over 20 years as a coach in grassroots sport, I’ve seen firsthand how local clubs like Alliance Amateur Swim Club can transform communities. This year’s response to the Hafner’s Sports Fund was incredible and choosing just five winners was no easy task for our judging panel.”

She added:

“Hafner’s has always cared about nourishing our communities in more ways than one; with the Hafner’s Sports Fund, we are giving back to local clubs that make a real difference to people’s lives. These are the places where friendships are formed, confidence is built, and future generations are inspired, and we’re proud to support them.”

The £5,000 fund forms part of Hafner’s wider commitment to supporting local communities and good causes across Northern Ireland, with a particular focus on grassroots sport and the positive role it plays in improving health and social inclusion.

For Alliance Amateur Swim Club, the funding represents more than a financial boost — it provides reassurance that inclusive, community-focused sport continues to be valued and supported.

More information on Hafner’s Sausages and the Hafner’s Sports Fund is available below.

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