Sports Minister highlights Giant role models

Sports Minister Nelson McCausland has highlighted the value of sports during a visit to the Dundonald Ice Bowl.

The Minister joined young people from Dublin and Belfast at the Giant H.E.R.O.S. (Hockey Education Reaching Out Society) ice hockey camp which is the culmination of a six month cross-community programme involving 30 youngsters from Short Strand, East Belfast and Finglas in North Dublin.

Speaking at the event the Minister said: “These young people have been brought together from across the community and across the border to learn about themselves and each other, and share their experiences.”

The whole programme is designed to develop participants’ self esteem, confidence and respect for others as well as their personal aspirations. It concludes with a one-week residential event centred on ice hockey.

The Minister continued: “The participants have been involved in new community activities and have learnt important life skills. This week’s coaching events with the Belfast Giants, based around exercise and fitness, round off the programme.

“They have been working together for some six months and today, while they have been polishing their newly acquired ice hockey skills, I have personally witnessed the spirit of gamesmanship, friendship, teamwork and co-operation, all of which have resulted from their involvement in this scheme.

“I have no doubt that the participants will have benefited greatly from this initiative in many ways. All the organisers of the Belfast Giants H.E.R.O.S. Programme are to be congratulated.”

Notes to Editors:

1. The purpose of the programme is to bring 30 young people aged 11– 14 together and provide them with experiences to enable them to develop self respect, tolerance and respect for others.

2. Participants, 10 from each location, may come from financially deprived backgrounds, have challenging behaviour or experience of trauma, but all are considered “at risk”.

3. The programme builds on a pilot delivered in 2008. The first phase involves a range of weekly and/or residential sessions of workshops followed by phase two which is based around ice hockey.

4. Along with the Belfast Giants Community Foundation CORE project and the Canadian Hockey Education Reaching Out Society (HEROS), the other organisations involved in the delivery of the programme are: The Bridge; Short Strand Community Forum; Finglas Youth Service and Alternatives.

5. For media information contact the DCAL press office on 029 9051 5047 or, out of hours, contact the Duty Press Officer on 07699 715440 and your call will be returned.