Pictured (L-R) with some of the training equipment that was bought thanks to the £300 Helping Hands donation is St Joseph’s Glenavy GAC Senior Ladies’ player Mary McStravick, Team Manager Chris Scullion, Power NI representative Lauren Donnelly, and club player Grainne McLaughlin.

Glenavy GAC scores with Power NI funding boost

Glenavy Ladies’ Gaelic Football Team, St Joseph’s GAC, has received a community grant from leading energy supplier Power NI through their staff sponsorship scheme, Helping Hands.

The ladies’ section at St Joseph’s is the latest to benefit from the long-running charitable scheme after it was nominated by Power NI employee, Amy Bennington. The donation has been used to purchase a range of equipment designed to enhance their weekly training sessions.

Founded in 1943, the club has enjoyed many successes, with trophy wins in the Women’s Intermediate Championships in 2013 and 2016 leading to a renewed focus on developing the ladies’ squads.

In addition to the £300 grant helping to cover the cost of new footballs and bibs for existing players, the funding will be used to provide specialised strength and conditioning equipment to enhance the players’ skills on the pitch.

Chris Scullion – St Joseph’s GAC Senior Ladies’ Football Team Manager – says the funding will allow greater progress and development of the players that work so hard for their club.

 “We have been making great progress with our senior women’s team and we’re delighted a local company like Power NI is investing in us,” he said.

“Thanks to Power NI’s very generous donation, we have been able to purchase equipment for training sessions including bibs and footballs, weighted sleds, resistance bands, and training poles,” he added.

Power NI employee Amy Bennington said she was pleased her nomination was accepted. “At Power NI community is at our core,” she said.

“Our ‘Helping Hands’ scheme has been running for many years, allowing staff to nominate local organisations to receive funding for something that is very important to them.

“Over the years, I have seen how much this funding through Helping Hands can impact small groups – and I am really proud to be part of a company that puts our people and our local communities first.”

Last updated 10 months ago