Beyond the Ball Building Young Leaders in Sligo
The Beyond the Ball community programme, funded by the International Fund for Ireland, is continuing to build the leaders of tomorrow with a major training programme hosted by Sligo Rovers FC.
The latest partnership training programme will see 25 young people from Tyrone, Fermanagh, Leitrim and Sligo attend the showgrounds over a two-week period to build their leadership skills and help the future of the programme.
The Beyond the Ball community engagement programme empowers social mobility by creating opportunities at the grassroots for young people aged 14-18 to participate in weekly sports sessions, training, and leadership qualifications throughout the summer holidays.
Many of the young people participating in this community engagement programme attended a cross-border, cross-community football tournament at Youth Sport in Omagh in April and a team-building event in Donegal earlier this month, and this training in Sligo marks an important next step in their journey.
Young people from Tyrone, Fermanagh, Leitrim and Sligo attend Sligo Rovers’ showgrounds ahead of starting our latest leadership training course, part of the Beyond the Ball programme with International Fund For Ireland.
Upon completion of this Beyond the Ball training, participants in Sligo will collaborate with peers from Belfast, Derry and Louth to organise a cross-border football tournament and education event for young people from across Ireland, which will take place on August 19th in Drogheda.
In addition to weekly football sessions, the Beyond The Ball programme invests in education and training qualifications for young people, building confidence and interpersonal skills and developing pathways to employability. Since the programme's establishment in 2023, just under 1000 young people from underrepresented areas have participated in weekly education and training sessions, earning skills that empower them to create change within their community.
Reflecting on the latest instalment of the Beyond the Ball programme, Rio Ferdinand, Founder of the Rio Ferdinand Foundation, said:
“The Beyond the Ball programme has been a fantastic opportunity for my Foundation to deliver our leadership and community cohesion projects across Northern Ireland and Ireland for the last three years, and particularly Sligo Rovers FC have been a significant part in that journey.
The commitment and energy I witnessed during my visit to the Showgrounds in 2024 was inspiring and seeing the programme delivered week by week over eight counties has been wonderful to see.
I want to thank everyone at Sligo Rovers for hosting this training, to congratulate the staff and volunteers involved and crucially to congratulate the young leaders on their progress and wish them the best of luck in taking these accreditations.”
Andrew Feakins, CEO of Sligo Rovers FC, commented:
“The partnership between Sligo Rovers and Rio Ferdinand Foundation has gone from strength to strength since our Beyond the Ball event in March 2025, with weekly activities and events.
I am delighted that the Showgrounds is now hosting the young leaders of tomorrow.
I welcome our guests from Fermanagh, Tyrone and Leitrim as well as our own young people from Sligo and wish them well in their training over the next two weeks.”
