County Antrim schools offered athlete mentoring and £1,000 of sports equipment

(L-R): Rhys McClenaghan; Gordon Cruikshanks, Regional Managing Director, Lidl Northern Ireland; Kerry O’Flaherty

Secondary schools across County Antrim are being invited to apply for a programme using sport and athlete mentoring to help pupils manage pressure, build resilience and support their mental wellbeing.

Schools selected for Lidl Northern Ireland’s Sport for Good programme will receive a series of workshops led by experienced athlete mentors, along with £1,000 worth of sports equipment.

Applications for the 2026/27 programme are now open and must be submitted by 10am on Friday 25 September.

Practical support for young people

The initiative, delivered in partnership with the Youth Sport Trust, is designed to give pupils practical ways to manage stress, rebuild confidence and improve their self-esteem.

Olympic gymnastics champion Rhys McClenaghan and Olympic steeplechase athlete Kerry O’Flaherty are supporting this year’s programme.

They will draw on their experiences of training, competition, disappointment and pressure to show young people how lessons learned through sport can also help them deal with challenges in everyday life.

McClenaghan said:

“Gymnastics might look like an individual sport when you’re out there competing, but no athlete does it alone. I’ve had people around me throughout my career, and I’ve also had to learn what helps me when there’s pressure, when confidence takes a hit or when something doesn’t go to plan.

“It’s also really important to know how to bounce back from disappointment and build resilience. Those lessons don’t only apply to elite sport. Young people deal with their own pressures every day, and learning how to respond, who you can talk to and what helps you feel like yourself again can make such a difference.

“Sport for Good gives young people practical tools they can actually use, while reminding them that asking for support is part of being strong. It’s an amazing programme that has had such an impact on hundreds of young people already, and I’d encourage schools across Northern Ireland to get involved this year.”

Pupils do not have to be ‘sporty’

O’Flaherty said the programme was intended to benefit all young people, including those who would not normally consider themselves athletes.

“Sport teaches you very quickly that things won’t always go to plan,” she said.

“There are barriers, disappointments and days when confidence isn’t there, and learning how to deal with those times is every bit as important as the good days.

“That’s what we want young people to take from Sport for Good. You don’t have to be an athlete or even think of yourself as ‘sporty’. It’s about finding the tools and support that work for you and understanding the positive role movement can play in how you feel.”

After completing the workshops, pupils will be encouraged to support their peers and develop physical activity and wellbeing projects within their schools.

According to feedback reported by the programme, 95% of participating teachers said pupil resilience had improved, while more than 80% of student mentors reported feeling a stronger sense of connection.

More than 125 schools supported

Sport for Good is now in its sixth year and has supported more than 125 schools since 2019, backed by over £400,000 in funding.

More than 1,200 pupils at 24 schools participated during the 2025/26 academic year.

Gordon Cruikshanks, regional managing director for Lidl Northern Ireland, said:

“Sport is a powerful starting point, but the programme goes beyond the athlete visit, giving pupils practical tools and the confidence to support one another.”

Ali Oliver MBE, chief executive of the Youth Sport Trust, added:

“Through Sport for Good, we’re helping young people build the confidence, resilience and support networks they need to navigate life’s challenges.”

Secondary schools wishing to participate must apply by 10am on Friday 25 September 2026.

Applications and registrations of interest can be submitted through the Youth Sport Trust.