Always on
This project successfully funded on 30th March 2026, you can still support them with a donation.
NCAFC Creating Pathways: Coach, Play, Belong
Newry, Newry, Mourne and Down, United Kingdom
Aim
Our project creates new football opportunities by training volunteer coaches and providing equipment for new inclusive and sustainable play.
Who are we?
Newry City AFC Academy is a volunteer-led, cross-community youth football organisation supporting more than 150 children and young people aged 5–18 from across the Newry, Mourne and Down and Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon areas. Our purpose is to promote amateur football by providing high-quality coaching, competitive opportunities and a safe, welcoming environment where everyone is treated fairly and with care.
Beyond football, we use sport as a positive tool for community development. We support young people to build confidence, resilience and social responsibility through diversionary activities and education around mental health, wellbeing, healthy lifestyles and personal safety. We actively collaborate with local organisations and invest in developing our volunteers and coaches, ensuring strong role models and sustainable opportunities for the future.
We welcome participants from all backgrounds, regardless of race, religion or belief, and are committed to fostering positive community relations. Through football, education and partnership working, Newry City AFC Academy helps young people thrive on and off the pitch.
The Charitable Purposes of Newry City AFC Academy are:
- To promote the amateur sport of football
- To offer coaching and competitive opportunities in amateur youth football
- To promote the Academy within the local community
- To ensure a duty of care to all members of the Academy
- To provide services in a way that is fair to everyone
Why are we crowdfunding?
We are crowdfunding to launch ‘NCAFC CREATING PATHWAYS: COACH, PLAY, BELONG’ a new project designed to expand inclusive football opportunities for children and young people across Newry City, particularly those from disadvantaged communities. Demand for places at Newry City AFC Academy continues to grow, and to meet this need sustainably, we must invest in our volunteers, facilities and equipment.
Funding will allow us to train and upskill volunteer coaches through National Coaching Certificates and UEFA C and B qualifications, ensuring safe, high-quality and engaging sessions for new and existing teams. Developing our volunteers is central to building long-term club capacity and aligns directly with Sport NI’s Creating Opportunities aim of increasing participation through a skilled workforce.
Crowdfunded support will also help us purchase essential sports equipment, pop-up goals and a secure storage container to improve access to equipment, extend its lifespan and support delivery across multiple locations. In addition, volunteer coaching masterclasses will strengthen session quality and safeguarding, helping us retain participants and support positive experiences.
This investment will enable us to introduce new programmes including Newry Little Kickers for primary school children, new youth teams, and expanded female football opportunities.
Trained volunteers will also support outreach delivery in schools located in areas of high social need, providing free, fun and inclusive football sessions that promote physical activity, wellbeing and social connection.
By crowdfunding alongside Sport NI support, we can remove barriers to participation, reach underrepresented groups and create clear pathways into sustained sport participation. Your support helps us ensure football in Newry is accessible, inclusive and built to last.
How we’ll spend the money raised
Project: NCAFC Creating Pathways: Coach, Play, Belong
Every pound raised through this Sport NI Crowdfunder project will be invested directly into creating new, inclusive and sustainable football opportunities for children and young people in Newry City and wider region. Funding will focus on volunteer development, safe delivery and essential equipment, ensuring long-term impact.
1. COACH EDUCATION – £3,825
Investing in volunteers is key to growing participation and maintaining quality coaching:
- National Coaching Certificate (NCC) – 4 volunteers × £220 = £880
Enables new teams and entry-level programmes to be delivered safely. - UEFA C Certificate – 3 volunteers × £650 = £1,950
Improves coaching standards and session quality across youth teams. - UEFA B Certificate – 1 volunteer × £995 = £995
Develops leadership and ensures long-term sustainability of the programme.
2. Volunteer Coach Development Masterclasses – £600
- 2 masterclasses × £300 = £600
Focus on safeguarding, inclusion, engaging sessions and volunteer coach/player retention.
3. Equipment Storage – £2,500
- Secure storage container = £2,500
Protects equipment, increases accessibility for volunteers and supports delivery across multiple community venues.
4. Sports Equipment – £3,075
Essential to launch Little Kickers, youth football and female football
- 6 x Pop Up Goals - £1332
- 16 x 6ft poles - £243
- 48 size 3 footballs - £400
- 48 size 4 footballs - £400
- 48 size 6 footballs - £400
- 100 bibs - £300
Total Project Cost: £10,000
This transparent investment ensures your support directly helps train volunteers, start new teams and open pathways for young people to coach, play and belong through football.
Community impact
Newry City AFC Academy has a positive and lasting impact on the wider community by using football as a vehicle for inclusion, wellbeing and opportunity. Our work benefits children and young people aged 5–18, volunteers, families and the wider Newry City community, with a particular focus on areas experiencing high social deprivation.
Through ‘NCAFC CREATING PATHWAYS: COACH, PLAY, BELONG’, we will provide low-cost football opportunities that reduce barriers to participation and offer safe, structured activities for young people who may otherwise have limited access to sport. By delivering sessions in local schools and community settings, the project reaches children where they live and learn, helping to improve physical health, mental wellbeing, confidence and social skills.
The project also strengthens the community by investing in volunteers. Training local people as qualified coaches builds skills, employability and leadership, while creating positive role models for young participants. This volunteer development increases the club’s capacity to support sustained participation, female football, disability access and cross-community engagement.
Our activities promote equality, respect and positive community relations by welcoming participants from all backgrounds regardless of gender, ability, race or religious belief. Football sessions also act as a gateway to wider learning, including mental health awareness, healthy lifestyles and personal development.
By expanding our outreach and facilities, Newry City AFC Academy helps create healthier, safer and more connected communities, ensuring football in Newry is inclusive, accessible and beneficial for everyone.
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!
Sport Northern Ireland: Creating Opportunities has provided £5,000 of match funding
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made