Lidl Northern Ireland has opened applications for its groundbreaking Sport for Good Mental Health Athlete Mentorship programme for the new school year, welcoming hundreds of secondary school pupils across the region to avail of a bespoke athlete-led mentorship programme using sport to build resilience and support wellbeing.
Developed in partnership with Youth Sport Trust, selected schools will receive visits from Northern Ireland sporting heroes, who will 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.
To date, Lidl Northern Ireland’s Sport for Good programme has reached over 100 secondary schools and is backed by an investment of over £400,000 in youth wellbeing across Northern Ireland.
Since its launch in 2019, Olympic heroes Rhys McClenaghan and Bethany Firth OBE have spearheaded the programme for the last six years, working in partnership with Lidl Northern Ireland as programme ambassadors to promote the programme within secondary schools across the region and encourage more schools to avail of the free educational support.
Following his recent injury and his own experience of maintaining mental strength and resilience when confronted with adversity, Sport for Good ambassador and Olympic gymnast Rhys McClenaghan said:
“I am delighted to continue working with Lidl Northern Ireland on the 2025 Sport for Good programme. I’ve been an ambassador for the last six years and have experienced first-hand the amazing impact it has had on young people. The workshops have been developed to really tackle mental health head on and empower students with the knowledge, confidence and skills to better manage daily issues and their overall mental health.
As an Olympic champion athlete, I’m no stranger to adversity and I understand how important mental health is for overall wellbeing. For me, resilience is a key skill that I continue to develop through the ups and downs of professional sport. Recently, I underwent surgery for a shoulder injury and again found myself relying on the skills I have developed over the years to keep a positive outlook throughout recovery and not let setbacks interrupt my overall goals.
I’ve really learned the importance of mental resilience, especially in the face of injury or when you’re out of your usual routine. Learning to do things to maintain your mental health at those more challenging times has been really important.
It’s skills like these that pupils really need and Lidl Northern Ireland’s Sport for Good programme provides very practical, supportive and bespoke training, delivered by amazing local athletes, which resonates so well with pupils. I’m excited to launch the programme for the new school year ahead and encourage as many secondary schools as possible to apply for a spot on this fantastic programme.”
Rhys is joined by fellow ambassador Paralympic swimmer Bethany Firth, and Sport for Good mentor and Olympic steeplechase athlete Kerry O’Flaherty, who added:
“Being an athlete mentor on the programme and working closely with Lidl and Youth Sport Trust has enabled me to see first-hand the impact this programme has on the young people, and how important it is to teach them how to prioritise their mental health.
“The feedback from both teachers and kids who have participated in the programme has been overwhelmingly positive, it’s always hugely rewarding to witness a shift in their mindset, and to hear from teachers about the concrete benefits they and their students gain from the programme.”
Joining the team of Athlete Mentors is four-time Paralympic athletics champion Michael McKillop MBE, Olympic hockey player Eugene Magee, and Commonwealth badminton player Ciaran Chambers. These specially selected mentors will lead school visits, deliver workshops, and support peer-led mental health initiatives.
Developed in partnership with Youth Sport Trust, the UK’s leading charity dedicated to improving young people’s education and development through sport and play, Chief Executive Ali Oliver MBE, said:
“Improving young people’s mental wellbeing is a priority for the Youth Sport Trust, which is why we are proud to continue our partnership with Lidl Northern Ireland. Through Sport for Good, we provide practical support that helps pupils manage both their physical and mental health through the power of sport.
“Our athlete mentors show how play and physical activity improve mood, and sport builds confidence and strengthens mental health and resilience. As we open applications for the coming year, we look forward to bringing these workshops into even more schools and seeing students grow.”
Commenting on the success of the programme to date, Gordon Cruikshanks, Regional Managing Director for Lidl Northern Irelandsaid:
“Over the years Lidl Northern Ireland, Youth Sport Trust and the athlete mentors have put so much work into the Sport for Good programme, and we are delighted that this will continue into 2025 and 2026.
“Seeing the impact of the programme is truly rewarding. Previous programme feedback found that 100 per cent of participating teachers reported improved pupil confidence and enjoyment of sport, whilst 73% of pupils reported higher resilience which is exactly what this programme is all about.
“We are excited to launch this year’s programme and, along with Youth Sport Trust, hope to continue to support young people at such an important stage of their life”.
Applications open for schools and customers from Monday 18th August (via Lidl Community Works) and close on Sunday 14thSeptember.