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Sports development

Stadia Community Benefits Initiative

  • Stadia Community Benefits Initiative (SCBI) 2016-2026

    The Department for Communities, Belfast City Council and the Irish Football Association are working together to deliver the Stadia Community Benefits Initiative (SCBI) which focuses on maximising the potential of the new National Football Stadium at Windsor Park to deliver social benefits. GAA (Gaelfast) joined the partnership in 2019 with the aim to maximise the potential of Casement Park Stadium.

    The initiative continues for 10 years (2016–2026) and will benefit from £150,000 per year investment. The overarching objective is to improve the quality of life now and for future generations. 

    Themes which will guide the implementation of the initiative’s Action Plan include: 

    • encouraging wellbeing and healthy lifestyle choices 
    • improving community engagement through schools, clubs and youth organisations
    • supporting new and existing football clubs to increase their capacity to deliver, creating more participation opportunities for the people Belfast. 

    Although football and Gaelic games are currently the main delivery sport of the initiative, we hope that other sports governing bodies will become involved in the future. 

    For more information, email [email protected] or call us on 028 9027 0344.

  • Upcoming programme of activities

    Nutrition - a key stepping-stone to sporting success

    The Stadia Community Benefits Initiative has launched a Nutritional Resource Pack.

    It aims to educate athletes, coaches, and teams across all sports on the importance of nutrition to improve athletic performance.

    The resource pack was developed by Daniel McIlrath, MSc Sport and Exercise Nutrition graduate supported by Dr Andrea McNeilly, Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Nutrition at Ulster University.

    The resource pack has information and recipes that can be used by those taking their first steps into the world of sport, to athletes performing at the very highest level of competition.

    We support this collaborative project with Department for Communities, the Irish Football Association and Gaelfast.

    To get a copy of the nutrition guide, email [email protected]. You can also visit irishfa.com (link opens in new window) or antrimgaagamesdevelopment.ie (link opens in new window) to download the guide.

    Coach education sessions

    Belfast City Council residents can take part in free coach education sessions or at subsidised rate (funded via SCBI). Registration is only open for the IFA Grassroots and Safeguarding programmes

    IFA-led training programmes

    • Grassroots
    • IFA National Coaching Certificate
    • UEFA C Diploma
    • UEFA B Diploma
    • OCN
    • Safeguarding
    • Mental Health First Aid
    • Media Training
    • Nutrition Workshop
    • First Aid

    Register for an IFA-led training programme (link opens in new window)

    GAA-led training programmes

    • Foundation Award
    • Award 1
    • Award 2
    • Safeguarding
    • Dermot Early Youth Leadership Programme
    • Volunteer Development Programme
    • New Horizons' Hurling and Camogie Conference

    Register for a GAA-led training programme (link opens in new window)

  • Ongoing programmes

    Shooting Stars

    SCBI currently supports four IFA Shooting Stars centres in Belfast.

    SCBI offers the first eight weeks free for Belfast residents. For information, contact [email protected] 

    The Irish FA Shooting Stars programme looks to create opportunities for girls (aged four to 11 years old) throughout Northern Ireland to fall in love with football. 

    Venues Dates Times
    Girdwood Community Hub  Tuesdays  4pm to 5pm
    Brook Leisure Centre Wednesdays 4pm to 5pm
    Shankill Leisure Centre Mondays 4pm to 5pm
    Lisnasharragh Leisure Centre Fridays 4pm to 5pm
  • SCBI Action Plan

    Lynne Wilson, Sports Development Officer outlines the three main themes that will guide the implementation of the SCBI’s Action Plan. Local community representatives from schools, clubs and community organisations who have taken part SCBI programmes share their experience and outline how SCBI has benefited them. IFA foundation staff also outline programmes available through SCBI and invite more local people to get involved.

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Contact us

For more information and advice, get in touch.

[email protected]

028 9027 0344

Sports Development, Cecil Ward Building, 4-10 Linenhall Street, Belfast, BT2 8BP

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