Lidl Northern Ireland has named 24 post-primary schools to take part in its award-winning Sport for Good programme during the 2025/26 academic year.

Launched in 2019, the initiative has so far supported almost 200 sports clubs and schools across Northern Ireland and channelled more than £400,000 in funding to help get more young people active.

Over the past year, more than 1,100 students benefited from athlete-led mental health workshops focused on managing stress, building resilience and self-esteem, and using sport and movement to support overall wellbeing.

Specially trained mentors delivering the sessions have included Olympic steeplechaser Kerry O'Flaherty, four-time Paralympic athletics champion Michael McKillop MBE, Olympic hockey star Shirley McCay MBE and Commonwealth athlete Ciaran Chambers.

Developed in partnership with the Youth Sport Trust, the UK charity dedicated to improving young people's education and development through sport and play, the programme will see athletes visit each of the 24 selected schools across the year. Every school will also receive £1,000 of new sports equipment. Speaking about her involvement, Kerry O'Flaherty said: "I am absolutely thrilled to be part of Lidl Northern Ireland's Sport for Good programme this year. Throughout my career, I've seen firsthand how powerful sport can be not just for physical fitness, but as a vital tool for mental resilience and well-being. Young people today face so many unique pressures, and it is incredibly rewarding to step into schools alongside the Youth Sport Trust to help them build confidence, manage stress, and discover the positive impact that movement can have on their mental health."

Gordon Cruikshanks, Regional Managing Director at Lidl Northern Ireland, said: "Through our Sport for Good programme, we are proud to invest in the future of our young people. By partnering with the Youth Sport Trust and bringing some of Northern Ireland's most inspiring sporting heroes like Kerry O'Flaherty directly into classrooms, we want to show pupils how physical activity can support their well-being. We're delighted to support another 24 schools this year, equipping them with both the mental tools and the physical sports equipment they need to thrive."

Ali Oliver, CEO of the Youth Sport Trust, said: "At the Youth Sport Trust, we believe improving young people's mental wellbeing is more crucial than ever, especially during these challenging times. Physical health and mental health are deeply interconnected, and our relationships with sport can have a transformative impact on both. This is why we're delighted to continue our valued partnership with Lidl Northern Ireland. The Sport for Good programme plays a vital role in supporting young people across the region, helping them navigate both physical and mental health challenges through the power of sport and play."

For more information, visit lidl-ni.co.uk/lidl-community-works.