Colin Glen Trust brings scrum-thing special to West Belfast

13 Oct 15 / Press Release

COLIN GLEN TRUST LAUNCH COMMUNITY GYM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ULSTER RUGBY & BIG LOTTERY YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME

Ulster Rugby players Nick Williams and Dan Tuohy have opened Colin Glen Trust’s new community gym in the heart of West Belfast.

The joint project between Colin Glen Trust and Ulster Rugby was funded by the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure (DCAL) and the Big Lottery Fund. GYM10 has been developed to encourage people from the local community to engage in physical activity in a relaxed atmosphere while providing the opportunity for young people in West Belfast to participate in and play rugby.

Colin Glen Trust celebrated 25 years of success in 2014 by providing education, adventure, interactive heritage, accommodation, sport and leisure facilities attracting 220k global and local visitors to West Belfast last year. The charitable trust has faced down challenges with young people in the local area by introducing a Youth Empowerment scheme funded by the Big Lottery Fund that fuses sport with health and nutrition education. Ulster Rugby has supported graduates of the scheme in gaining Level 2 Fitness Instructor qualifications, enabling them to offer inductions and programmes for new members.

In In welcoming the development Minister Carál Ní Chuilín said;

“This is a magnificent facility from which the entire community can benefit.  Located in an area of high social deprivation this new facility will deliver important health and wellbeing benefits to the people of the area.

“The adult population, local schools and clubs can all benefit from Gym10 and I am pleased to learn that Ulster Rugby’s Disability & Inclusion Officer has been working closely with the Colin Glen Trust, who are responsible for the day to day running of the new gym, to support an All Ability Sports programme which brings together both able bodied children and those with disabilities.

“Increasing levels of participation and engagement among socially excluded groups has been and will remain a priority for me and my Department and Gym10 will play a pivotal role in the overall development of this site by the Colin Glen trust.  It will also provide employment opportunities and will make an immense contribution to community life.”

Joanne McDowell, Big Lottery Fund NI Director said: “Our Empowering Young People programme is transforming the lives of young people most in need in Northern Ireland. We are delighted to see how the programme is supporting vital projects like the one at Colin Glen Trust to give young people the skills to improve their lives.”

Colin O Neill, Chief Executive of Colin Glen Trust, said: “The development of GYM10, a community-based fitness centre is a welcome addition to the range of facilities here at the Colin Glen Trust. With GYM10 we have created a space that removes all barriers to participation in physical activity. The inclusive fitness standard equipment and machines are suitable for all age groups and abilities.”

Ulster Rugby President, John Kinnear, said: “We are delighted to be able to contribute to this great project. The installation of gym equipment at sites such as the Colin Glen Trust is a great way to help to improve health and wellbeing among all age groups and will enable local people in West Belfast the opportunity to engage with fitness and rugby sessions.

“The youth empowerment programmes at Colin Glen Trust have been doing some amazing work in exposing more and more people in this area to the game of rugby and hopefully we will see even more progress in the future. I’d like to thank the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure for their continued support in helping us expand rugby in both traditional and non-traditional areas.”