#SeriousSupport Schools Programme

Lidl Ireland is launched the Lidl #SeriousSupport Schools Programme, supported by the Ladies Gaelic Football Association and is delivered by the Youth Sports Trust. Lidl Ireland have invested significantly in this initiative, which aims to reduce the drop-off rate in sport participation amongst girls aged 11-14 years.

26 schools annually will partner with one of Lidl’s 12 athlete mentors, who are current or former elite-level inter-county players. Their experience is at the highest level and all have inspiring stories to share and are committed to using sport to transform the lives of young people. The athlete mentors will introduce students to the Lidl values, which are key to the success of elite athletes.

Athlete Mentors include Ann Marie Doran (Wicklow), Laurie Ryan (Clare), Méabh De Búrca (New York/Galway), Samantha Lambert (Tipperary), Siobhan Sheerin (Tyrone), Therese Scott (Monaghan), Eilish Ward (Donegal), Cathy Carey (Antrim), Aisling Hanly (Roscommon), Deirdre O’Reilly (Cork), Leah Caffrey (Dublin), Niamh McEvoy (Dublin), Lucy Hannon (Galway) and Anna Galvin (Kerry). All schools involved receive inspirational assembly talks, #SeriousSupport workshops from their mentors and will then undertake a Ladies Gaelic Football project of their own throughout the year, applying the concepts they’ve learned through the workshops.

Research undertaken by Lidl into how sport participation impacts the lives of women both on and off the pitch, and the factors that influence dropout rates, showed that by age 13, 1 in 2 girls drop out of sport. Girls are 3 times more likely to give up sport than boys. Yet, it was discovered that girls who continue to play team sports are 4 times more likely to feel body confident, 50% feel more supported and 80% are more likely to have positive mental wellbeing when compared with their peers who do not play sport.

Originally piloted in 7 schools before being rolled out fully across a further 26 schools in the 2019-20 school year, the Lidl #SeriousSupport Schools Programme delivered proven results and provided schools with the opportunity to make a considerable impact amongst their female students. A survey of students after the initial 2019-20 programme found that 98% felt it improved their teamwork, 96% said it enhanced their aspirations and 92% increased their confidence as a result.