Keeva Kyle from Raceview Ladies Football Club, who plan to purchase new playing kits for the team.
Water sports, swimming and boxing clubs are among the beneficiaries of a new grassroots sports fund established by Fibrus.
The Full Fibre broadband company had originally set aside £30k for the initiative but an additional £17k was added to the initial pot after applications flooded in from local communities.
Nearly 50 grants of up to £1,000 have now been given to a range of clubs, including football, Gaelic games and cricket, in Northern Ireland and Cumbria, as Fibrus continues to roll out in these regions.
In Northern Ireland, 29 grassroots sports are set to benefit from the investment.
These clubs, who are working with young people, will get a share of the cash, covering everything from rugby to rowing, football to athletics and hockey, all funded through ‘Play it Forward’.
The fund will be used to support clubs in a variety of different ways, such as purchasing new kits, subsidising training fees, purchasing new equipment or enhancing existing facilities.
Welcoming news of Fibrus ‘Play it Forward’ sports funding are: Keeva Kyle from Raceview Ladies Football Club; Brooke Reeves of Coleraine Alumni Rowing Club; and Maggie Steele, coach at Shane O’Neill’s GAC.
Dominic Kearns, Chief Executive of Fibrus, said the ‘Play it Forward’ fund reflects the company’s commitment to invest in communities beyond broadband.
“Our promise to connect communities on a local level also means encouraging children to go outside, make friends and have fun,” he said.
“The decision to increase the fund this summer will help nearly 50 grassroots clubs to thrive and make a lasting impact in their communities, empowering young people to excel in sport, while enjoying themselves.
“After an overwhelming response from the community, we felt compelled to extend the fund to make a positive impact in the lives of kids.
“If the ‘Play it Forward’ sports fund helps young people in local clubs to pursue their sporting passions and fulfil their potential, then it will have done its job both here in Northern Ireland and in Cumbria.”
Those words were echoed by Jamie Mairs, secretary of Ballymena-based Raceview Ladies FC:
“Thanks to Fibrus' support, we will be able to purchase new playing kits for the team. The impact of this funding goes beyond sports – it's about empowering our community's youth and instilling values of teamwork and discipline. We extend our gratitude to Fibrus for making a difference in our club and the lives of our athletes.”
Fibrus is already committed to giving back to local communitiesoutside of sports. The Fibrus Community Fund invests £120k each year (across Northern Ireland and Cumbria) to combat digital deprivation in these regions. Just last month, the company announced it had allocated all of its funding for 2023 ahead of schedule in Northern Ireland due to overwhelming demand.