Two Newtownabbey schools are set to benefit after Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announced an increased investment of £3 million for the Your School Your Club programme.

The Department for Communities funded initiative, delivered in partnership between Sport NI and the Education Authority, opens up school sports facilities for use by local communities and sports clubs outside of normal school hours.

The programme helps schools upgrade or adapt their pitches, halls and other sports spaces so they can be safely and effectively shared, increasing access to quality facilities and supporting greater participation in sport across Northern Ireland.

The investment will enhance facilities at a total of eight local schools.

Pictured at with local school children at Belfast High School are (l-r), Richard Archibald, Interim Chief Executive, Sport NI, Communities Minister, Gordon Lyons, Mrs Charlotte Weir, Principal, Belfast High School and Education Minister, Paul Givan. Photo: DFC

placeholder image — Pictured at with local school children at Belfast High School are (l-r), Richard Archibald, Interim Chief Executive, Sport NI, Communities Minister, Gordon Lyons, Mrs Charlotte Weir, Principal, Belfast High School and Education Minister, Paul Givan. Photo: DFC

They include Belfast High School, which will receive a new 2G carpet for its existing facility. This investment will significantly increase available usage hours for the wider Newtownabbey and Jordanstown community and help meet local demand for hockey, football, and other sports, as well as broader community use.

Abbey Community College, meanwhile will see the installation of new floodlights.

Speaking after a visit to Belfast High School, Minister Lyons said: "I am delighted to announce the next phase of Your School, Your Club, which will enable eight schools to improve and enhance their sports facilities.

“This significant investment will not only benefit pupils at these schools, but it will also provide local clubs and community members access to high quality facilities after the school gates normally close.

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“This is a transformative initiative, delivered through my Department’s arm’s length body, Sport NI and demonstrates the power of two Stormont Departments working together. This program enhances and improves existing facilities across the school estate and encourages more people to get active.”

The Minister was joined at Belfast High School by Education Minister Paul Givan. “I have no doubt [this investment] will bring physical, social, and emotional benefits, not only for our children and young people, but for all of society,” Minister Givan said.

The ability to access good sports facilities within local areas is vital to any sporting organisation, said Richard Archibald, Interim CEO Sport NI. “[But] many clubs struggle to find suitable places to train and compete,” he added. “Thanks to Your School Your Club we are improving school sports facilities across Northern Ireland and opening them up to the wider community, providing more opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to participate in sport.”

Principal of Belfast High School, Mrs Charlotte Weir expressed her delight that the school’s application for funding for the replacement carpet for the 2G full size synthetic pitch had been successful. “We are looking forward to the extensive use that it will have, both by our own pupils and from a range of groups in our local community, including pupils from the special schools in our Learning Community, boys and girls from mini-rugby clubs, and of course the range of hockey events in collaboration with Ulster Hockey,” she said.

"This would not have been possible without the support of SportNI and the Department for Communities and we look forward to working with them to have the pitch in operation in the summer term.”