Sport Northern Ireland: Creating Opportunities has provided £4,500 of match funding
In with the new & educated
Belfast, United Kingdom
Aim
A new Youth team in our club & to provide education opportunities for the children.
22nd Old Boys & Ladies FC
We are a community based club in North/West Belfast which is an area with an extremely high level of social and economic deprivation. We have been embedded in our community for 74 years now. With 3 senior men's teams, 2 senior ladies teams and various youth teams. We have won regional IFA Accredited Club of the year 3 times and hold IFA people's and Club Award. We are an ambitious club and work to not only provide football for or club and community but promote positive mental wellbeing.
Why are we crowdfunding?
To help set up and fund a new youth team at our club. From our previous experience the parents loved that we ran a homework club so we aim to run this alongside the new team.
This will be run twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday evening. Young people will come do their homework supervised with qualified coaches, then train and help move into our youth team.
We have the coaches in place and they have passed the relevant checks. We wish to up skill these coaches by supporting them through their coaching badges, providing quality equipment for them to coach and use the 3G pitch at Clarendon
How we’ll spend the money raised
The funding raised will be invested directly into improving the quality of provision for our young people both on and off the pitch. A key priority will be the upskilling of our coaches through accredited training and development opportunities, ensuring they have the knowledge, qualifications and safeguarding skills needed to deliver high-quality coaching sessions. This investment will help create a positive, inclusive environment where every player can develop their confidence, skills and enjoyment of the game.
A portion of the funding will also be used to secure access to a 3G pitch, allowing training and matches to continue throughout the year regardless of weather conditions. In addition, we will purchase new equipment, including footballs, training aids, bibs and goals, ensuring our players have access to safe, modern resources that support their development. Finally, we will establish and run a homework club for team members, providing a supervised space where young people can complete schoolwork, access learning support and build positive study habits. By combining sporting, educational and personal development opportunities, the project will deliver lasting benefits for the young people and families involved.
Community impact
Our project will deliver a lasting positive impact within the local community by establishing a new youth team that provides young people with a safe, structured, and inclusive environment in which to learn, develop, and build meaningful relationships. The team will create opportunities for participation regardless of background or ability, helping to increase social inclusion, confidence, teamwork, and community engagement. By offering regular activities and positive role models, the project will encourage young people to make healthy lifestyle choices, develop life skills, and strengthen their sense of belonging within the community.
In addition to sporting and recreational activities, the project will operate as a homework and study support club, providing a welcoming space where young people can complete schoolwork, access guidance, and receive encouragement from our club. This additional support will help improve educational outcomes, reduce barriers to learning, and provide constructive after-school opportunities for those who may otherwise lack access to suitable facilities. The project will also place a strong emphasis on promoting positive mental health and emotional wellbeing. Through regular engagement, peer support, and activities that encourage resilience, self-esteem, and social connection, we aim to help young people build the confidence and coping skills needed to thrive. By supporting both educational achievement and mental wellbeing, the project will contribute to a healthier, more connected, and more resilient community for years to come.
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!
This project successfully funded on 14th August 2026