Young ambassadors empowered to deliver change in their community

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has commended ten young people from Belfast who are learning new skills to empower them to become leaders in their community.

Young TBUC Ambassadors

The young ambassadors are putting their leadership and good relations training, through the Department for Communities’ (DfC) Uniting Communities through Sport and Creativity programme, into practice on a visit to Liverpool.                 

The young people are working alongside world class athletes as part of the programme delivered by Dame Kelly Holmes Trust in partnership with PeacePlayers International NI.

DfC’s Uniting Communities through Sport and Creativity programme is part of the Together: Building a United Community Strategy (T:BUC) and aims the group to become motivated, upskilled and socially responsible young people who can drive forward positive change in their communities.

Communities Minister, Deirdre Hargey said: “I am delighted that ten T:BUC Uniting Communities Ambassadors have been given this opportunity to utilise the power of sport and creativity to help them to enhance their leadership qualities on this learning trip to Liverpool.

“The T:BUC Uniting Communities programme enables young people to learn new skills, make new friends but most importantly empowers them to develop the confidence and leadership to tackle the issues that are being faced by people in their own communities. No doubt they will bring back learning from this experience and I look forward to following their progress.”

The visit to Liverpool is designed to provide the T:BUC Young Ambassadors with an opportunity to experience first-hand how sport is used to help develop their skills and to improve their understanding of diversity.

Over the course of the three days, the group will be working with elite athletes from Dame Kelly Holmes Trust including British Taekwondo champion Henry Cookey, Paralympic swimming champion Liz Johnson and European skateboard champion Neil Danns. They will be meeting young people from Liverpool who have previously attended a Get on Track programme with the Trust, taking part in a Ninja fitness session with Henry and visiting Goodison Park to work with Everton in the Community.

Liz Johnson, athlete mentor at the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust said: “I’ve been working closely with this group over the past nine months and it’s great to be able to take this group from Belfast over to Liverpool to experience all that the city has to offer. The three days are packed full of activities and events that help them with more tools and skills to help them become leaders and ambassadors within their own communities.”

Notes to editors: 

1. Dame Kelly Holmes Trust are a UK youth sports charity which supports 11-25 year-olds who are harder to engage in both education and in the community. More information at Dame Kelly Holmes Trust.

2. The Department for Communities leads on the development of a cross community youth sport, physical and creative activity programme entitled Uniting Communities through sport and creativity.

3. Media enquiries to DFC Press Office on 02890 823516 or e-mail. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer on 028 9037 8110.

4. Follow us on Twitter.

Share this page