Project Ideas - East Belfast

At Ashfield Girls’ High School we have a great demand for after-school football. Over the last couple of years, we have tried to provide this for the pupils and have managed to provide some sessions.

We would like to build on this by creating an Academy where pupils in all year groups can attend after-school football, and avail of expert coaching. We would hope to begin to put competitive teams together and take part in local friendly matches and competitions.

The monies from the grant would allow us to pay for a coach to work with the pupils. We would also hope to use some of the money to qualify a few staff members and possibly older pupils, who can then become a support.

We hope to make links with local clubs so that pupils have an avenue outside of school to further their development and enjoyment of the game.

What difference will it make to the people of Belfast?

The pupils within our school will benefit from the Academy, allowing them to develop skills and friendships as part of a team. We want to be able deliver our afterschool club at no cost to the families of the pupils. Local football clubs will benefit from additional members potentially joining through our club links.

Amount requested: £2099.94

Belfast Pickleball Club

Establishing Belfast’s first Pickleball Club - Belfast Pickleball Club will be an inclusive not for profit club which aims to provide a safe and fun space for people to enjoy the sport's health and social benefits, regardless of skill or mobility. We want to strengthen community bonds, promote fitness, and make Pickleball accessible to everyone.

Pickleball stands out as an exceptionally inclusive and accessible sport for various reasons. It’s a beginner friendly sport which caters to individuals of all skill levels. The game's moderate physical demands and smaller court size make it suitable for diverse fitness levels and mobility ranges. Played predominantly in doubles, Pickleball promotes social interaction and teamwork, enhancing its inclusivity. Additionally, the sport's community driven atmosphere encourages a sense of belonging, making Pickleball a standout choice for individuals seeking an inclusive and enjoyable recreational activity which will help their mental health.

In addition to this, according to figures released by the Association of Pickleball Professionals in a survey conducted by YouGov, Pickleball has secured its place as the third most actively played sport in the United States of America, boasting a participation rate of 36.5 million people. The sport not only commands a significant following but also offers substantial health benefits, as revealed by a study from Western Colorado University. Pickleball players, averaging a heart rate of 109 bpm and burning 354 calories per hour, engage in a moderate-intensity workout comparable to activities such as hiking, yoga, and water aerobics.

Belfast Pickleball Club will help adults from 18-85 years old move more and improve their physical health as well as tackling mental health and social issues. Pickleball's popularity is soaring, with a growth rate of 158.6% in the last three years in the USA. Recognising this trend, our goal is to be well-prepared for the Pickleball wave by establishing an inclusive club. 

What difference will it make to the people of Belfast?

Belfast Pickleball Club will be the first Pickleball Club in the city of Belfast. A dedicated Pickleball club offering a place to play, socialise, exercise, train and have fun. It will be the first of it’s kind in the city, and we know it will make a huge difference to people, like those mentioned above, who choose to take part. 

Amount requested: £2497.80

Outdoor Family Céilís – East Belfast

We will organise 2 outdoor Family Céilís in conjunction with Eastside Arts Partnership at well-known locations in the east of our great city

All ages from children right through to those in their 70s or 80s will be welcome to attend and all genders, cultural groups will be encouraged to join in also. No experience is necessary and all the dances will be very simple and easy to do.

The céilís will incorporate a variety of well-known céilí dances and 2-hand dances from Ireland & Scotland including the Gay Gordons, the Orcadian Strip the Willow, Waves of Tory, Siege of Ennis.

Along with an internationally renowned céilí dance master and experienced Céilí Dance Captains you will be shown all the moves & Instructions need to complete each dance in advance. Some fantastic local musicians will be on hand to provide great tunes

 Its great exercise and the craic will be mighty …. Sure, come along to what will no doubt be a 2024 highlight if céilí dancing in east Belfast.

What difference will it make to the people of Belfast?

Céilí dancing will improve the fitness levels of anyone taking part as it’s a wonderfully aerobic activity. Additionally the requirement to listen to instruction and coordinate movements to specific musical genres significantly improves mental well being also. Céili dancing is so sociable, isn’t unique to any one section of our community, can be done & enjoyed by anybody and new friendships will undoubtedly be forged across east Belfast during the actual céilis.
 It’s a great family experience for the whole family. 

Amount requested: £1900

EBGAA Summer Series

Community level sport play a vital role in promoting positive social, emotional, cultural and economic outcomes. At East Belfast GAA, we are dedicated to improving not only our performances on the pitch, but also to enriching the lives our members and those in the local community. We feel it is important to develop good habits from an early age, from increasing physical activity and promoting improved nutrition, and encouraging these habits throughout a person’s sporting life and beyond.

Our project is split into two sections, one aimed at our youth section and the other aimed to players and our older members.

Firstly, we aim to provide healthy snacks before and after training for our youth players throughout our weekly summer training sessions. Youth sport participation is positively associated with improved wellbeing, confidence, and self-esteem. There is already a summer scheme of trainings and games in place, and so providing healthy snacks will add to the holistic approach we are trying to encourage. Along with this will be literature encouraging healthy eating and promoting good habits from an early age, which will have long-term benefits for everyone, not just those who continue to play through to adulthood.

The second part of our project will involve a number of talks/discussions from a range of people such as physios and dieticians, which will help to encourage improved movement and eating practices that will benefit our playing members and older members of the local community. These will provide anyone who is interested with a chance to improve their overall well-being, with an emphasis on increasing physical activity and improving nutrition in the long term.

With this program of events, we aim to jointly improve our performances on the pitch, while aiming to improve the overall health and well-being of all others in our community.
  

What difference will it make to the people of Belfast?

Firstly, by introducing healthy eating practices to our younger members, it will encourage them to think further about their nutrition and refuelling before/after training games. By encouraging good practice early in their sporting career, it helps them to make the right decisions regarding their health and nutrition resulting in long term health benefits. Secondly, with a number of discussions from Health Care Professionals, it will give our older members a better understanding of how moving more and eating well can affect their performances, improve their health and mental well-being. 

Amount requested: £2500

Greenway Growers

EastSide Greenways would like to incorporate moving more and eating better into a food growing project to be delivered on the Connswater Community Greenway. We will work with up to 15 individuals over the course of the growing season, March to September. Working with Groundwork we will deliver fortnightly horticulture sessions which will be outdoor based, allowing people to move more by planting and doing. These sessions will give people the knowledge to grow their own food, even where space is limited.

We will teach the relevance of healthy eating and how to use the foods we grow, including providing recipes and meal suggestions. Our planting plan will be decided by the participants so it is person-led and fully engaging, however we will be sure to incorporate a mix of plants in order to produce as much food as possible throughout the season.

Small planters will be provided so that participants can continue their growing journey at home, regardless of access to space. Connswater Men's Shed in collaboration with Groundwork will be commissioned to build these planters locally.

What difference will it make to the people of Belfast?

This project will allow local people to learn about growing their own food and help to create positive food relationships. It will also show that moving more doesn’t have to mean exercise, simple movements like gardening and growing contribute to our overall fitness and health, as well as including the benefits of being outside and connecting with the nature on our doorsteps. 

Amount requested: £2240

Fitness Freddy Health & Wellbeing 

The Fitness Freddy Active at schools and Well Being programme is a partnership with 3 East Belfast schools, Victoria Park P/S, Belmont P/S and Longstone special school. The programme will provide physical activity sessions within the school full of fun and laughter.

This project will support children from 4 years to 18 years of age in mainstream schools to achieve this target in a fun environment. The activity will focus on an interactive dance fitness raising awareness and building confidence through activity, games and talks around the 5 Steps to wellbeing. Each school will benefit from 10 tutor hours of activity spaced out over a number of weeks to accommodate the school’s schedule.

A report by Stranmillis University College (2021) emphasised that both PE and daily outdoor physical activity have a central role to play in active learning and increased engagement. The guidance highlights the benefits of a minimum of two hours physical activity a week in the development of resilience and the positive impact on children’s health and wellbeing.

What difference will it make to the people of Belfast?

This programme will make a difference by providing fun activities including dance, games and interactive talks in 3 local schools that will benefit the children's confidence, physical fitness and wellbeing. They will come home from school with a sense of achievement and improved mental wellbeing.

Amount requested: £2500

Do not suffer alone 

The aim of the project is to deliver a programme of support, education and empowerment to women; in particular, those in perimenopause and menopause, in order to mitigate self-harm and prevent suicide through improving mental health and wellbeing. Some women sail through from peri to post menopause without any physical or mental health issues and can be suddenly overwhelmed with an onset of symptoms, of which anxiety, depression and loss of confidence. Our aim is to deliver 14 workshop sessions for 2.5 hours per week: 

1. Weekly meet-ups to support and educate people in menopause and issues surrounding it
2. Weekly healthy eating Lunch made by and for the group
3. Develop & educate women and to create community ambassadors in Menopause
4. Community support within Menopause Group for others to share experiences and information
5. A group physical activity each week for 30 minutes

We want to create a safe and friendly space to simply support and have real and valid conversations. Sometimes knowing you are not alone can really help and to listen, mentor and signpost people so they get the support that is right for them. The majority of those who have experienced menopause said they had been negatively affected by it. This is especially high among the younger age group of 35–44-year-olds. It is evident that women under 45 who experience menopause have less information about it or are less supported.

What difference will it make to the people of Belfast?

The project is providing information, practical help and support to empower everyone to take control of their menopause and improve their health and mental wellbeing. The project recognizes the importance in their community to deliver information and support to people and understands that a woman’s overall wellbeing isn’t just about how physically active they are. It also relies upon positive life choices, support and inclusion. It’s about empowering women to take control of their health and wellbeing through preventative measures to allow for a healthier life.

Amount requested: £1970

The Mersey Tunnel!!

The Mulch and Munch Gardening group meet in the Mersey Street School Apartments, Mersey Street in East Belfast. The aim of our project is to make the best possible use of the growing area behind the old school. Mulch and Munch are looking forward to growing fruit, vegetables and flowers for themselves and the local community while also increasing the habitat for wildlife and providing a closer connection with nature for people in the area. The addition of a Polytunnel or similar structure would be a great benefit, enabling them to extend the range of what they can grow.

The group that has taken this on is a collection of members from the RNIB who had expressed a desire to garden but had no area available to them. They would be excited for the local community to join them. They now have the raised beds but would love to be able to grow a wider range of crops, which in turn would allow them to increase the variety of their diet. This could be achieved if they could secure a polytunnel. A polytunnel would extend the growing season by at least 4 weeks each end of the season, enabling the group to work together outside for longer and keep them more active throughout the year. It would give the opportunity to bring on their own seeds and grow foods like tomatoes, sweet potatoes or maybe even some grapes.

Gardening or having a connection with nature has generally been accepted as being good for mental health and overall wellbeing. Gardening can help to tackle loneliness and isolation not just for the RNIB community but for the local community as well. Being in nature has been linked to a lower risk of depression, improved sleep and overall general wellbeing.

What difference will it make to the people of Belfast?

Not only would it provide the opportunity for the community to plant and grow their own seeds, learning new skills, it also provides the chance for the local community to engage with nature. We will be a wildlife friendly garden, learning about local nature and how we can help it thrive. Providing the people of Belfast with the opportunity to connect with the wildlife on their doorstep. 

Amount requested: £2500

NCU Development Challenge Series

Provide cricket learning and development opportunities to boys and girls aged 10-17 in a game scenario and competitive environment.  

This project will provide opportunities within the NCU landscape to players aged 10-17 to participate in cricket matches against other boys and girls in a learning but game scenario environment. Players will receive professional coaching provided by the NCU coaches.

The challenge series is an ever-growing programme within our organisation with numbers of boys and girls rising year upon year taking up the opportunity of professional coaching and development learning games against peers of similar ability.

This project is crucial for the sustainability of boys and girls aged 10 to 16 to counteract the critical drop off rate of physical activity at this age.

Cricket is a sport that caters for people of ethnic minorities due to the popularity of cricket in countries such as India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, South Africa and many more. Cricket is the second most popular sport in the world behind football however, it has a way to go to compete against the more mainstream sports in Northern Ireland however, our massive opportunity is to grow the game for people who move to Northern Ireland as we become more cosmopolitan.

If we have the support from charities and support partners such as Belfast City Council, we have an exciting opportunity to grow the game in many areas of need within Belfast. This project naturally grows the game by offering more people more opportunities. Cricket can be a sport that consists of a lot of training during the winter and then due to a number of reasons including resource, weather coaching capacity etc. playing opportunities don't arise and people lose interest. Playing fixtures against peers is key to lifelong participation in sport and we hope that Belfast City Council can support the NCU to deliver this exciting project. 

What difference will it make to the people of Belfast?

Cricket is the second most popular sport in the world behind football however, it has a way to go to compete against the more mainstream sports in Northern Ireland. However, our massive opportunity is to grow the game for people who move to Northern Ireland as we become more cosmopolitan. If we have the support from charities and support partners such as Belfast City Council, we have an exciting opportunity to grow the game in many areas of need within Belfast. This project naturally grows the game by offering more people more opportunities.

Amount requested: £2500

Greenspace Bernie

In March 2022, a subgroup of the Parent Teacher Association of St. Bernard's Primary School received funding from the Department of Infrastructure Living Places and Spaces Fund to develop unused greenspace to the front and side of St Bernadette's RC church, St Bernard’s Primary School and 110th Belfast Scout Hall. At the time, the existing greenspace was unattractive but had the potential to be more wildlife friendly and provide an extended use for the wider community. Through the fund, a number of initiatives have been introduced including willow dome and willow tunnel, bird feeders and camera, planting of heritage apple trees and wild meadow, construction of new raised beds and planting native hedging and vegetables. The nursey and primary classes use the wildlife garden space as an outdoor learning space and can access the bird boxes via the interactive white boards. Over 50 volunteers have been involved to date in the project from across the community including teachers, families and scouts.

The next stage of the project is to further develop and strengthen the greenspace by introducing new raised beds and adopting beds for various types of vegetables to promote Moving More and Eating Well within the wider community. As per the previous project, volunteers from the wider community will be sought to assist with the planting, maintaining and harvesting of the vegetables. The 110th St. Bernardette’s Cub scouts have expressed an interest in planting a raised bed with vegetables in 2024 and use this as a project to assist in earning one of their challenge badges.

 The health benefits of group gardening are widely known in terms of keeping active, reducing stress and social interaction. In order to raise awareness, an event will be organised to invite the wider community to avail of the vegetables at harvest time, incorporating recipe ideas and ways of introducing more vegetables into daily diets

What difference will it make to the people of Belfast?

Opportunity to assist others with the planting, maintaining and harvesting of the vegetables and in turn reaping the health benefits of group gardening such as making new friends, reducing stress and keeping active. Our school community come together for various activities but we have realised the “Greenspace” activities have huge potential as a rolling programme, allowing everyone involved to gain a sense of satisfaction and pride in seeing the planters and raised beds not only looking better, but growing produce that can be taken home and enjoyed. In order to ensure we have good quality soil/compost, the right variety of bulbs and seeds it is essential for us to have funds to buy what it is needed. We want to build on the momentum of the existing project and future proof it for the new families joining the school in the future. Some families in the school do not have a suitable outdoor space to explore gardening, or do not have the confidence or skills to consider planting seeds/bulbs. Our informal sessions are open to everyone, and we are fortunate to have experienced gardeners, including those with a background in horticulture that enjoy sharing their knowledge in a kind and friendly way.

At the proposed harvest celebration event in Autumn 2024 we hope to include a cookery and education session on using produce grown. We have parent volunteers who in their work life are dietitians/chefs/catering managers and we with their guidance we will run an excellent event and open it up to the school and wider community.

Amount requested: £2500

Diet and Dance

Our project will run on a fortnightly basis 1 day per week. It will focus on getting local people healthy through introducing healthy eating and dance.  

We will offer several types of dance, which will include hip-hop Zumba and jive hopefully attract different age range of people. We will run them on a 3-week block and on the last week have a demonstration in the local community centre of all dances learned.

Each week we will have a simple menu that people can follow easily, we will have a demonstration of the menu provided on a weekly basis, some of the things we will be doing is smoothies and soups, fruit kebab, sandwiches, veg dips with yogurt.

 We will finish each week with a short talk around healthy eating and how we feel any improvement has been made with our physical movements. Lots of leaflets promoting healthy lifestyle will be giving out each week

What difference will it make to the people of Belfast?

Our project will help local people become more healthy by introducing them to healthy eating and dance 

Amount requested: £2500

Good to Grow

Our project aims to redevelop one of our school gardens to provide a healthy, sustainable and educational space.

“Tom” is a Strandtown pupil. He was having a very difficult time at home and didn’t want to come to school. As a result, he was emotionally distressed for most the school day and refused to get involved in learning and positive school experiences that help with children’s emotional, social and physical regulation. School staff responded to Tom’s situation by utilising our outdoor space and giving him the opportunity to look after a small garden plot which he tended to daily. This had a transformational impact. Suddenly, Tom’s day had a purpose; he took pride in tending his plot, gained the benefits of outdoor physical activity and his mental wellbeing improved. Each day, he came into school willingly and excited to know when he would be able to go to the garden. Tom built up a sense of calm control at a time in his life when things were incredibly tough and unpredictable.

Strandtown is the largest primary school in NI, but also one of the lowest funded per pupil. We serve a very diverse school population and have a large catchment area of pupils. Whilst we celebrate this diversity, a significant number of pupils, like Tom, have many challenges and barriers to navigate within their day. Some face emotional and cognitive challenges, others face financial hardship and lack of basic necessities.

Through Tom’s experience, we can see the huge opportunities and benefits of utilising our outdoor garden spaces for all our pupils. As well as creating a safe space to help with emotional regulation, our garden area has the potential to create a healthy, sustainable and educational space that will promote healthy eating habits and physical activity as well as providing opportunities for learning about sustainable development.

Our project will redevelop a garden space which is largely unusable due to a lack of resources. It will vastly improve the quality and functionality of the space, as we hope to purchase a small shed, gardening tools and equipment, and polytunnels for growing healthy, organic and nutritious produce. Our children will grow their own fruit and vegetables, significantly investing in their health and wellbeing, and establishing life-long habits of healthy eating and physical activity as they move into adolescence and adulthood. The project will also harness the positive effects of outdoor experiences for the promotion of social, cognitive, emotional and physical skills. In sum, our project will benefit all pupils in our school community by encouraging them to eat well and move.

What difference will it make to the people of Belfast?

Our project will benefit all pupils (981) in our school community, but will also have a positive impact on the wider community in east Belfast as our pupils will be encouraged to share the key health messages of the importance of physical activity and healthy eating with their friends and families through extended learning and home based learning activities. more, whilst also providing vital support to those, like Tom, who are most in need. Please give us your vote! 

Amount requested: £2500

'Intro to Running' by Willowfield Harriers 

We’re on a mission to make group running accessible for all in Belfast!

Who are we?
Willowfield Harriers is an East Belfast Running Club. Formed in 1898, we currently have over 160 members from the age 9 to 80 and we support and develop athletes of all abilities.

In 2024 we’re excited to launch our new ‘Intro to Running’ training programme. This is an introductory and accessible style of training programme, to encourage those who are new or returning to running or fitness to get involved without the fear or anxiety of joining regular club runners for interval and speed sessions.

Structured over an 8-month period from February to September 2024, the first phase of the programme will be open for all and designed to develop people from no regular running to achieving their first 5K or 10K race. All while being part of a welcoming and supportive community of new runners.

The weekly programme will consist of:

• Monday Evening: Weeknight Social Run and/or Gentle Intervals - Meet at Stormont 
• Wednesday Evening:Track Taster Sessions - Mary Peters Track
• Sunday Morning: Weekend Social Run - various locations (trail and road)

We'll also provide advice and guidance around nutrition, strength and conditioning, health monitoring and race preparation via F2F coaching, supporting materials and introductory running clinics, including a dedicated evening event at a local running shop (either Podium 4 Sport or Pure Running) as we’re keen to support local business in the area too.

The programme is completely free of charge for all participants.

What difference will it make to the people of Belfast?

We want to make running accessible to everyone, regardless of their fitness level, fostering a healthier and more active community. We believe we can inspire individuals to adopt a more active lifestyle and discover the joy of running, creating a positive impact on their physical and mental health. 

Amount requested: £2490

Move to Improve

We would love to deliver four Summer Boot Camps in West, North, South and East Belfast. We hope to attract women and girls (aged 18+) during the summer months to move more in order to feel better!

If successful, in each area of the city we will deliver a six-week boot camp with 2 sessions a week (12 sessions in total). We will provide a variety of times and days to suit everyone and the camps will be in community centres and leisure centres within the local community. Each session will be £1 per session which makes each boot camp not only accessible but affordable too.

Boot Camp classes are a great way to help improve your cardiovascular health and strengthen your muscles. These classes also require little/no equipment which means you don’t need anything special just yourself and maybe some water! The classes are made up of body weight exercises such as squats, star jumps, sprints, lunges and more. Everyone is a beginner therefore our classes are aimed at those starting their fitness journey and those who want to get fit with a group of likeminded women and have a bit of fun!

What difference will it make to the people of Belfast?

We believe that taking part in an exercise class that is fun and enjoyable will be more sustainable and you will be more likely to continue this habit long term. Moving more is vital for our physical and mental wellbeing and our focus is on the women of Belfast. We want to encourage women to lead healthier lifestyles by providing accessible and affordable ways to participate in physical activity. We also want to use local council parks and leisure centres to show more women what is available in their own communities and how they can integrate more in their own areas. These boot camps will not only improve the physical and mental wellbeing of the women but also provide them with new skills and an opportunity to socialise and make new relationships.

Amount requested: £2500