Poots Meets NI 'Thank You Fund' Winners

Health Minister Edwin Poots has met with some of the winning recipients of this year's Coca-Cola Thank You Fund, which seeks to promote healthy and active living in Northern Ireland.

From a total of 11 winners from across the island of Ireland, Swim Ireland was awarded the top prize of £21,000.

Also among the winners were Monkstown Boxing Club in Newtownabbey and The Prince’s Trust based in Belfast, each receiving £8,000 in funding.

£21,000 will go towards Swim Ireland's 'Swim for a Mile Challenge', to be launched next April.

The scheme wills see members of the public in the Republic of Ireland and across Northern Ireland compete in an all-Ireland competition to swim a mile, either indoors or in the sea.

Monkstown Boxing Club is to use their £8,000 funding to deliver the 'Box Clever' project; a 40-week development programme in partnership with Monkstown Community High School to deliver a newly developed non-contact boxing and after-schools programme for Year 8 & 9 pupils.

The Prince’s Trust will use their grant to deliver the Trust Fairbridge programme to Northern Ireland for the first time. Fairbridge is a personal development programme combining one-to-one support and group activities for marginalised and disengaged young people aged from 16-25.

Ailish Forde, Director of Public Affairs and Communications, Coca-Cola HBC Ireland, said: "The funding awarded to each of the 11 winners will result in exciting, diverse initiatives designed to promote healthy, active lifestyles being realised across the island of Ireland. I would like to congratulate all of the entries on their creativity and passion, the calibre of the proposals received by Coca-Cola this year was very impressive. I would also like to thank our panel of judges that had the onerous task of selecting a shortlist from over 300 entries."

"Coca-Cola is delighted to be able to play a meaningful role in supporting these groups, helping to bring their worthwhile visions to life which will benefit the lives of so many people. We look forward to keeping in touch with our recipients and witnessing the various projects take effect across the country."

(IT/MH)