Who are we?
Holy Trinity Foundation is a registered charity, dedicated to providing diverse and positive opportunities for disadvantaged people in and around Cookstown and our wider Mid Ulster community to engage in various activities, such as sports, physical activity, community development, citizenship, education, arts, culture, heritage, and science.
Our primary focus was initially to help raise funds for extra curricular initaitves within the school, but we are now focusing on catering more opportunities for those who currently lack access to such opportunities, particularly young people from deprived areas in Cookstown and across Mid Ulster, those from low-income families, those living in disadvantaged urban and rural areas and disadvantaged young people living with disabilities, all of whom are socially, economically, and physically disadvantaged.
Our motto, "Inspiration, Innovation, and Excellence," embodies our commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for all to build confidence, develop skills and provide opportunities for our most vulnerable. Many of our disadvantaged young people struggle with physical and mental wellbeing issues, and an increase in social isolation particularly prevalent across our beneficiaries.
We received funding recently for our Breakfast Club for example, from Halifax Foundation and a significant aspect of our charitable work revolves around promoting community health and well-being, encouraging awareness of good physical and mental health, and fostering an active community in Cookstown for all, regardless of background or ability.
Why are we crowdfunding?
We’re crowdfunding to open up new sports opportunities for teenagers in Cookstown and inspire them to get active and engaged in sport- From January 2025 to March 2025.
This is off the back of a recent walk young people done, which give us the idea to develop a new healthy sports programme which is much more than just 1 walk!
So, over 12 weeks, 20+ teenagers from Cookstown will take part in a new sports programme from January to include regular walking, a couch25k initiative, "steps to success" programme involving 10,000 steps challenge each day, an introduction to a gym and wellness through sport.
Here is more detail on what we are Crowdfunding for:
Weeks 1-2: Getting Started and Building Routine
- Regular Walking Sessions: Twice a week, participants will join guided group walks around Cookstown. These sessions focus on building a habit of regular movement while fostering social connections.
- "Steps to Success" 10,000 Steps Challenge: Teens will be encouraged to track their daily steps with a goal of hitting 10,000 steps each day. Weekly prizes or recognition can be awarded for those meeting the challenge.
Weeks 3-12: Couch to 5K Training
- Couch25k Program: Teens will start the popular Couch25k program, with guided sessions three times a week, gradually building endurance and confidence in running.
- Weekly Milestone Goals: Each week will introduce distance goals, with coaches guiding participants in stretching, running techniques, and pacing.
Weeks 4-8: Introduction to the Gym and Strength Building
- Gym Orientation: Participants will attend an introductory session at MUSA or Cookstown Leisure Centre, where they’ll learn about gym equipment, safety, and beginner indoor exercises such as circuit training.
- Light Gym Equipment Workouts: Teens will focus on bodyweight exercises, resistance bands, and light dumbbells to build strength and confidence in a gym setting.
- Wellness Through Sport: Sessions will cover topics like nutrition, rest, and the importance of strength training for overall health.
Weeks 8-12: Holistic Wellness and Maintaining Motivation
- Continued Walking and Running: Teens will maintain their walking and running schedules, now focusing on combining their efforts with gym work.
- Wellness Workshops: Weekly workshops on topics such as mental wellness, goal setting, and stress management through physical activity.
- Final 5K Celebration Event: The programme will conclude with a 5K run or walk event, celebrating each participant’s progress and dedication with certificates, medals, or other awards.
This programme not only aims to improve physical health but also builds a foundation of lifelong physical activity habits in a supportive environment led by an experienced coach.
How we’ll spend the money raised
All donations received will be used towards the following:
12 week indoor facility hire and pitch hire @ Mid Ulster Sports Arena and / or Cookstown Leisure Centre @ £40 per hour 6 hours per week x 12 weeks= £2,880
Project Specific Equipment @ £3,500= Athletics Multi Coaching Packs x 7 @ £300 each= £2,100. £1,400 towards 20 x Home gym packs @ £70 each (made up ofResistance Bands, 20 x Yoga Mats, 20 x foam rollers, 20 x Mini Exercise Balls).
1 Specialist coach to deliver the project= £30 per hour, 6 hours per week x 12 weeks= £2,160
Refreshments budget= £4 per participant per week x 20 participants= £960
Project Promotion (Social media and print)= £500
Community impact and Sport NI Alignment
This programme aligns with Sport NI’s "Creating Opportunities" objectives in several key ways:
New and Additional Initiatives: The programme is completely new, and we have never done this type of focused project before. It offers 20+ teenagers (targeted specifically because of their current inactivity) in Cookstown new avenues to engage in regular physical activity and wellness practices through sport, meeting Sport NI’s aim to introduce new sports participation opportunities beyond regular activities of our Foundation.
Community Connection: By involving 20+ teenagers who have never exercised before (including those from minority ethnic backgrounds) in group activities such as walking, running, and indoor exercise sessions, this initiative connects participants and strengthens community bonds, supporting Sport NI’s goal to "connect communities" through shared physical activity.
Targeting Underrepresented Groups: This programme is designed for young people (ages 11-18), one of Sport NI's target groups. A number of participants will also be from minority ethnic backgrounds and females. It addresses accessibility by creating structured opportunities within Cookstown, thus aligning with the objective of engaging underrepresented populations.
Building Resilience in the Sporting Sector: By introducing participants to wellness and indoor exercise based activities, the programme fosters lifelong habits and encourages continued engagement, echoing Sport NI’s focus on building resilience and adapting to engage new audiences.
Increasing Membership and Participation: The programme’s broad range of activities, from walking and running to introductions to indoor training such as circuit training, aims to increase regular physical activity among teenagers. We will also signpost participants to our local clubs in Cookstown post project completion which aligns with Sport NI’s goal to grow membership and participation within the sporting sector.
This initiative supports Sport NI’s vision of “levelling the playing field” by making sport accessible, inclusive, and appealing to teenagers who may not have previously engaged in organised physical activities.
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!