Waterford school to participate in #SeriousSupport Schools Programme

Lidl Ireland have announced the 26 schools, one in every county in the Republic of Ireland, who have been chosen to participate in its #SeriousSupport Schools Programme for the 2023-24 school year. This represents an investment of €120,000 in local schools across the country.  

Supported by the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) and delivered by Youth Sport Trust and their specially trained athlete mentors, the programme is designed to educate teenage girls about the positive mental and physical health benefits of playing sport. The programme also aims to increase participation and reduce drop-out rates for teenagers in the sport. Twenty-six schools across Ireland will have the opportunity to benefit from the programme along with receiving a brand-new set of jerseys for their school team.  

Lidl’s 2023 State of the Nation research commissioned in September demonstrated the significantly positive impact participation in sport has on secondary school girls. Girls that play sport are significantly more likely to have high levels of body confidence (40%) compared to girls who do not play sport (25%). 49% of girls that play sport report strong levels of mental wellbeing compared to just 29% of those that do not play sport. Among the benefits of playing sport cited by girls in the research was that it is good for your physical health (73%), increased mental wellbeing (49%), increased energy levels (49%), lifelong friendships (42%) and increased confidence (39%). 

The athlete mentors of the Serious Support programme, all of whom are current or former inter county ladies Gaelic football players, are committed to using sport to transform the lives of young people. The mentors will introduce students to the programme’s values of Respect, Trust, Responsibility and Recognition. Taking place over the course of two visits to each school, the programme will be delivered via workshops and team-building sessions.  

Boasting an impressive array of achievements, the stellar line up of LGFA intercounty players delivering this year’s programme are; Ann Marie Doran (Wicklow), Eilis Ward (Donegal), Laurie Ryan (Clare), Méabh de Búrca (Galway), Orlagh Farmer (Cork), Samantha Lambert (Tipperary), Therese Scott (Monaghan), Aisling Hanly (Roscommon), Anna Galvin (Kerry), Cathy Carey (Antrim), Deirdre O’Reilly (Cork), Leah Caffrey (Dublin), Lucy Hannon (Galway), Niamh McEvoy (Dublin), and Shannon McQuade (Fermanagh). 

Waterford school Waterpark College will participate in the programme.