Instonians beds in home retailer Harry Corry to support rugby youth programme

-- Harry Corry cuts its cloth with major sponsorship deal that backs Instonians Rugby Football Club ‘Rugby for All’ Youth Programme --

Leading home retailer Harry Corry has joined forces with Instonians Rugby Club, providing top level support for its ‘Rugby for All’ Youth Programme to help support our future All Ireland League, Five Nations and World Cup champions.

Harry Corry has been supporting Instonians for over four decades but this latest commitment significantly upweights the retailer’s investment in the 104 year-old club, originally founded at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution, and specifically in its increasingly important youth outreach activity.

One of Northern Ireland’s oldest and most respected clubs, Instonians is committed to providing opportunities for young people to develop and reach their potential while enhancing their enjoyment and passion for the game and Harry Corry’s backing as a sponsor will now deliver a major boost for its growing teams.

A sport for all communities, Instonians’ Youth Programme already works with 20 schools across the Belfast and Lisburn areas – and mostly those with no rugby-playing history – delivering coaching resources and equipment to make weekly and even more regular training sessions available at each location.

Now a full-time job for Instonians Youth Programme coordinators Michael Fairbanks and Ruairi O’Farrell, the programme welcomes a record 900 young people from all communities and backgrounds who are interacting, becoming friends and playing rugby together every week.

Instonians Club Community Rugby Officer Michael Fairbanks said:

“Our ‘Rugby for All’ Youth Programme represents our commitment and passion in encouraging more young people to have the opportunity to learn new skills and build on their talent and potential. It’s also an important vehicle for developing creativity, awareness, resilience and decision-making while promoting leadership skills, independence and collaboration among everyone from every community and background.

“We are absolutely delighted to have won the backing from the team at Harry Corry to increase our impact as our main sponsor.”

Harry Corry Interiors is a family run business that was established by Harry Corry in 1968 and over the last 55 years, the company has established itself as a leading retailer of home furnishings. Harry Corry Interiors has 56 retail outlets throughout Ireland and Scotland, and now employs more than 700 staff.

Gareth Corry from Harry Corry and part of the Instonians youth coaching team said:

“Our partnership with Instonians demonstrates our commitment to invest in our communities, to promote youth participation in sport, encouraging health and wellbeing while providing an important platform for our next generation to reach their potential in a fun, engaging and collaborative way.

“Instonians ‘Rugby for All’ Youth Programme has undoubtedly proved popular with upwards of 1,000 young people engaged from primary school through to secondary school and we’re thrilled to be playing a key role in its current and future success.”

One of Northern Ireland’s best-known brands, Harry Corry opened its 56th store at Cresent Link in Derry~Londonderry last month with an investment of £150,000 and creating 10 new jobs. The new store is the latest investment as part of the business’s ongoing growth strategy.

“Harry Corry is part of the fabric of Northern Ireland,” Gareth Corry said. “We’re local, we’re investing, and we look forward to putting our weight behind this important, inclusive initiative that is already making a real and positive impact on so many lives.”

ENDS…//