Everton in the Community showcases the Power of Sport

Senior officials from Everton in the Community visited Belfast last week to participate in the ‘Ready For The Challenge’ conference at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park.

EitC Executive Director, Phil Duffy, was joined by the charity’s Director of Health and Sport, Michael Salla, and Director of Youth Engagement, Employability and Sport Development, Sue Gregory, at the conference, which was to highlight the benefits which major sports stadia can bring to the wider community.

The ‘Ready For The Challenge’ conference saw EitC staff share their experiences of how football clubs and their facilities can be used to positive effect and bring substantive benefits to the communities in which they are located. Duffy, EitC Executive Director, also spoke to those in attendance about the charity’s many community engagement programmes. All presentations and discussions were very well received and a reciprocal visit to Everton in the Community is planned for later in the year.

The event was organised as part of the new Stadium Community Benefits Initiative – a 10-year £1.5million programme developed by Belfast City Council, the Irish Football Association and the Department for Communities. The conference also looked as issues such as youth engagement, mental health, volunteer development and female participant in all aspects on sport.