Sport Northern Ireland: Creating Opportunities has provided £5,000 of match funding
Active for All
Newtownabbey, Antrim and Newtownabbey, United Kingdom
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Aim
Creating an inclusive community space where young people with learning difficulties can build confidence, stay active and feel they belong.
Who are we?
Monkstown Boxing Club is a community organisation at the heart of Newtownabbey, supporting over 1,000 young people each year through sport, education and personal development.
We believe every young person, regardless of ability, background or circumstance, deserves a place where they feel safe, supported and part of something positive.
Our gym is more than a gym. It’s a community hub where young people build confidence, friendships, resilience and a sense of belonging.
W
hy are we crowdfunding?
We are launching Active for All, a project designed to give young people with learning difficulties the chance to access a community gym in a way that feels safe, supported and tailored to their needs.
Over the past year, we’ve seen how transformative it is when these young people have the space to move, learn, socialise and grow. But to continue and expand this work, we need dedicated equipment, specialist support, and a more accessible environment.
Your support will help us:
- Create inclusive gym sessions
- Provide trained staff and volunteers
- Adapt equipment and spaces
- Offer a welcoming environment where every young person feels they belong
Active for All — Project Breakdown
What we are proposing
Active for All is a structured weekly physical activity programme delivered by qualified Monkstown Boxing Club coaches, designed to ensure that young people with a disability can access sport, movement, and peer connection in a safe, welcoming environment.
How it will work
Running for 36 weeks across the year, participants will take part in a two-hour coached session each week at MBC's facility. To remove the barrier of travel, we will provide dedicated transport to and from school, ensuring attendance is never dependent on a young person's personal circumstances or family situation.
What your support delivers
Deliverable Detail
Weekly coached sessions - 2 hours per week across 36 weeks, delivered by MBC coaches; Transport - Door-to-school pick-up and drop-off for every participant; Inclusive gym sessions; Adapted activities designed for young people with a disability; Trained staff and volunteers; Qualified coaches and vetted volunteers at every session; Adapted equipment and spaces; Equipment and environment modified to meet participant needs; Welcoming environment; A consistent, safe space where every young person belongs.
Who it is for
40 young people with a disability in the Newtownabbey area who currently face barriers to accessing sport and physical activity.
The numbers:
- 40 young people with a disability reached
- 36 weeks of delivery
- 2 hours per session, per week
- 60 hours of coached physical activity per participant across the programme
- Transport provided to and from school for every young person
Why it matters
Without dedicated funding, this programme cannot run. Your contribution directly pays for the people, the transport, the equipment, and the space that makes Active for All possible and ensures that disability is never a barrier to belonging.
How we’ll spend the money raised
Every donation will go directly towards creating a safe, inclusive and empowering gym experience for young people with learning difficulties. The money raised will help us purchase specialist equipment, provide staff training, improve accessibility within the gym and create resources that support confidence‑building and communication. It will also help us offer transport support for families who struggle to get their young people to sessions. Being transparent matters to us, and we want supporters to clearly see how their contribution will make a real difference.
Active for All — Budget Summary
Total requested: £10,000
ItemCost
Coach costs (3 coaches, 30 weekly sessions) - £4,500
Transport to/from school (30 sessions) - £2,400
Staff training (disability awareness, safeguarding) - £1,200
Specialist equipment (including gloves, hand wraps, skipping ropes etc) - £900
Accessible resources - £600
Accessibility improvements - £400
Total - £10,000
All funds will go directly towards delivering safe, inclusive gym sessions for 40 young people with a disability, including specialist coaching, accessible transport, trained staff, and an adapted environment.
Community impact
Active for All will have a positive impact far beyond the young people taking part. It will give families a trusted, supportive space where their children feel understood and valued. It will reduce isolation by helping young people build friendships and social skills, while strengthening community connections through shared activities and volunteering. By expanding the use of our gym as a wellbeing hub, we’re creating a space that benefits the whole community and ensures that every young person, no matter their ability, has the chance to thrive.
How you can play your part
There are four simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.
1. Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success!
2. Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.
3. Offer rewards. Get involved if you are a local business by donating things we can offer to our supporters. We will give you a shout out!
4. Fundraise for us. If you want to run your own fundraiser – maybe a sponsored activity or similar – use the 'contact project' button at the top of our page to let us know. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won’t need any bank details. Just a fun idea!
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 10th August 2026 at 11:33am