Derrybeg benefits from after school club and football team

A community group in Newry has expanded what it offers families in the community with a little help from the Housing Executive.

Members of Derrybeg’s football team: Stefan McKnight, Kevin Pearce, Conor McCartan, Marcus McCartan and Ryan McElroy with Eileen Grant and Michelle Hazlett of the Housing Executive

Derrybeg Community Association began an after schools club which is seeing children from all ethnicities come together to play and learn.

The club is also helping local parents bridge the gap between school finishing and end of work times.

The after school club is providing the community’s children with a variety of activities including indoor tennis, baking, soft ball, arts and crafts.

Thanks to the Housing Executive they have been able to buy more equipment to help the children develop good relations as they learn through play.

The community association’s football team has also been given a boost as they now line out in new jackets which were supported through a community cohesion funding from the Housing Executive.

The team has played in a variety of tournaments across Northern Ireland but although silverware remains elusive, pride is at an all-time high.

Eileen Grant and Michelle Hazlett with some of the children who enjoy the after schools club at Derrybeg

The Housing Executive’s Good Relations Officer, Michelle Hazlett, said, “We are committed to developing good relations. We were pleased to support Derrybeg Community Association’s after schools club so the children from here have the chance to experience other cultures as they play together and learn within a wider group.

“Their football team are great ambassadors for the area as they have been building friendships with other teams as they play their fixtures,” she added.

Malachy Rafferty from Derrybeg Community Association said, “The after schools club is certainly helping to keep our young people’s minds occupied. They have plenty of things to do as they get involved with the community association and learn about different cultures as they play together.

“It’s been great to see so many coming along to the football too. The guys involved are highly motivated and the new jackets have given them a great boost. I’d like to thank the Housing Executive for their support of both of our projects.”

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Posted by Newry Times News on Feb 16 2016. Filed under Community. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry