Sion Swifts to receive over £5,000 funding from Co-Ownership

Co-Ownership, the shared ownership provider for Northern Ireland, has announced that ladies football team Sion Swifts will receive a £6,980 share of its £20,000 Community Fund.

The Fund exists to support projects which make a positive impact in the lives of individuals, local neighbourhoods, and communities across Northern Ireland, including members for Derry.

Sion Swifts Ladies FC makes football accessible to girls and ladies from the age of five and welcomes all ethnicities and backgrounds. In addition to Derry members hail from Tyrone and Donegal. The club will use the funding to enhance its winter programme of events to include health and wellness classes.

Naomi Donnan, Senior Ladies player at Sion Swifts said: “We are extremely grateful to be awarded funding from Co-Ownership’s Community Fund this year.

"The funding will go towards our winter programme of events which welcomes youth members, their families, and the local community to engage in classes and training focused on nutrition, mindfulness and exercise.

"We’re really proud that Co-Ownership has recognised our efforts to provide a positive outlet for the community in the Strabane and Sion Mills environs.”

The Fund, now in its sixth-year builds on Co-Ownership’s commitment to responsible business and working for social good.

Mark Graham, Chief Executive at Co-Ownership, said, “Our Community Fund is a really important initiative, and we are proud it continues to support projects that have a positive impact on communities across the province.

"This year we are delighted to acknowledge and award Sion Swifts Ladies and the positive contribution they make in Strabane and the surrounding areas.”

This year Co-Ownership’s £20,000 funding has been awarded to Sion Swifts and a further three groups throughout Northern Ireland.

Other groups awarded through the community fund include Mainstay DRP. FareShare NI, a Homeless Connect project who received £5000 to help maintain its national network of charitable food redistributors.

The final group to receive funding is The Trussell Trust, to help maintain its network of more than 40 food banks.

For more information on the Co-Ownership Community Fund and to find out if your organisation or group may be eligible to apply for funding next year visit Co-Ownership.