The Lidl Ireland #SeriousSupport Schools Programme is back!

Proudly supported by the Ladies Gaelic Football Association and delivered by the Youth Sport Trust charity

Put on hold in the 2020-21 school year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the #SeriousSupport Schools Programme, supported by the Ladies Gaelic Football Association and delivered by the Youth Sport Trust charity, is back. The #SeriousSupport Schools Programme aims to reduce the drop-out rate in sport participation amongst girls in their junior cert cycle through workshops and training sessions led by current or former inter county players working as athlete mentors in secondary schools across the country.

Lidl are now seeking nominations from schools and parents across the country for their chosen secondary school to be 1 of 26 set to benefit from the programme that will begin delivery after the Halloween mid-term break. To enter, the nomination form available on www.lidl.ie/serioussupport must be completed, including entering a 10 digit unique Lidl receipt code from either a paper or Lidl Plus digital receipt, by the deadline of Sunday, 10^th of October.

Research previously 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 and that 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, 80% are more likely to have positive mental wellbeing and 50% feel more supported when compared with their peers who do not play sport.

The Lidl #SeriousSupport Schools Programme will see each of the 26 secondary schools partner with one of Lidl’s athlete mentors who are all current or former inter county ladies Gaelic football players committed to using sport to transform the lives of young people. They will share inspiring stories of their journey through sport and how it has helped them become the people they are today. The mentors will introduce students to the programme values of Respect, Trust, Responsibility and Recognition, which are key to the success of the athletes themselves. Returning athlete mentors include Lidl ambassador and Dublin footballer, Carla Rowe, Mayo legend and Great Western Sydney AFLW player, Cora Staunton and Donegal’s Eilish Ward with the full list of mentors to be revealed before the programme delivery begins.

Each selected school will receive inspirational workshops and training sessions from their mentors and they will also undertake a Ladies Gaelic Football project of their own throughout the year, applying the concepts they’ve learned through the workshops. They will also receive a new set of Lidl sponsored team jerseys for the school.

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 has delivered proven results and provides schools with the opportunity to make a considerable impact amongst their female students. A survey of students after the initial 2019 programme found that 98% felt it improved their teamwork, 96% said it enhanced their aspirations and 92% increased their confidence as a result.

President of the LGFA, Mícheál Naughton, commented; “We are delighted to be associated once again with the Lidl #SeriousSupport Schools programme. For many of our young students, this programme can be a life-changing experience, as they gain key insights and experiences from the athlete mentors. We are immensely proud of our ability to touch the lives of young people as they develop skills that will help them through adolescence and into adulthood. This is a pivotal time for young people as they are faced with numerous challenges and our athlete mentors can impart invaluable knowledge. We look forward to following the Lidl #SeriousSupport programme and watching it enrich the lives of participants.”

Lidl ambassador, #SeriousSupport athlete mentor and Dublin ladies footballer, Carla Rowe, added; “I’m delighted that Lidl’s Serious Support Schools Programme is returning to secondary schools across the country. It has been a great experience to share my story with the students and pass on all of the lessons I have learned about ladies football and life over the years. Secondary school can be a hard time for many children and playing ladies football brought so much positivity to my school life and general confidence that I would encourage every girl to start or to continue playing for as long as they can.”

Nominations for the Lidl #SeriousSupport Schools Programme are now being accepted via www.lidl.ie/serioussupport until the deadline of Sunday, 10^th of October.

***

We are also delighted to announce that one post primary/ second level school from each county of Antrim, Armagh, Derry, Down, Fermanagh and Tyrone will be selected to participate in the #LGFASupport Programme, plus they will win a set of jerseys.

To be in with a chance of being selected, they must be nominated to participate. Please complete your nomination details at the link below and note that this information will only be used for the purposes of this competition.

Closing date for nominations is 10^th October 2021.

https://forms.office.com/r/dBiH56GwGr