24 schools across every county secured a place on the retailers ‘Sport for Good’ Mental Health Athlete Mentorship programme in partnership with Youth Sport Trust
Lidl Northern Ireland revealed the list of 24 post primary schools that had successfully secured a place on the retailer’s award-winning Sport for Good programme for the 2025/2026 academic year.
Established in 2019, Lidl Northern Ireland’s Sport for Good campaign has supported almost 200 sports clubs and schools across Northern Ireland to date and provided over £400,000 in funding to encourage more young people into sport.
More than 1,100 students across the region benefited from this year’s programme, which saw Northern Ireland’s sporting elite deliver a series of dedicated mental health workshops designed to enable young people to better manage stress, build resilience and self-esteem and view sport and movement as tools for looking after their mental wellbeing.
The team of specially selected Sport for Good mentors who have been trained to deliver the workshops have included Olympic steeplechase runner Kerry O’Flaherty, four-time Paralympic athletics champion Michael McKillop MBE, Olympic hockey hero Shirley McCay MBE and Commonwealth athlete Ciaran Chambers.
Developed in partnership with the Youth Sport Trust, the UK’s leading charity dedicated to improving young people’s education and development through sport and play, Lidl Northern Ireland’s Sport for Good programme sees athletes visit the 24 successful schools throughout the year, with each school also receiving £1,000 worth of brand-new sports equipment.
Speaking on her involvement in the programme, Kerry O’Flaherty said: “I am absolutely thrilled to be part of Lidl Northern Ireland’s Sport for Good programme this year. Throughout my career, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful sport can be not just for physical fitness, but as a vital tool for mental resilience and well-being. Young people today face so many unique pressures, and it is incredibly rewarding to step into schools alongside the Youth Sport Trust to help them build confidence, manage stress, and discover the positive impact that movement can have on their mental health.”
Gordon Cruikshanks, Regional Managing Director at Lidl Northern Ireland said: “Through our Sport for Good programme, we are proud to invest in the future of our young people. By partnering with the Youth Sport Trust and bringing some of Northern Ireland’s most inspiring sporting heroes like Kerry O’Flaherty directly into classrooms, we want to show pupils how physical activity can support their well-being. We’re delighted to support another 24 schools this year, equipping them with both the mental tools and the physical sports equipment they need to thrive.”
Ali Oliver, CEO of the Youth Sport Trust said: “At the Youth Sport Trust, we believe improving young people’s mental wellbeing is more crucial than ever, especially during these challenging times. Physical health and mental health are deeply interconnected, and our relationships with sport can have a transformative impact on both. This is why we’re delighted to continue our valued partnership with Lidl Northern Ireland. The Sport for Good programme plays a vital role in supporting young people across the region, helping them navigate both physical and mental health challenges through the power of sport and play.”
For more information, please visit lidl-ni.co.uk/lidl-community-works
