Include Youth Announced as Ulster Rugby Charity Partner

Include Youth supports children and young people throughout Northern Ireland, who are in or leaving care or from disadvantaged communities to improve their employability, increase their confidence and self-esteem and reach their full potential.

Through the partnership Ulster Rugby will help raise the profile of Include Youth's work and boost income through a range of joint fundraising events. The partnership will also help provide young people with access to a sport they know very little about and connect them into the wider rugby community.

Paddy Mooney, Director at Include Youth, said:

"We are delighted to have been chosen as Ulster Rugby's official charity partner for the next two seasons and look forward to working alongside them to tackle youth unemployment, boost young peoples' confidence and get fans onside.

"This partnership will benefit the children and young people we work with in so many different ways, from supporting us to deliver physical activity programmes to connecting young people to employers, mentors and positive role models in their community.

"Money raised will go towards supporting young people gain qualifications, grow in independence and support us as an organisation to continue delivering a high level of service in a difficult funding climate.

"This is the first time we have entered into an official partnership like this and are so proud that Ulster Rugby has chosen to support Include Youth's work with vulnerable and disadvantaged young people."

John McKibbin, IRFU (Ulster Branch) President, added:

"Include Youth is a brilliant charity that does a great amount of work to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, equipping them with important life and employability skills.

"I hope that our partnership will help to raise awareness for some of the issues facing young people in today's society, while also attracting much-needed income to help fund some of Include Youth's excellent initiatives. I urge the Ulster Rugby community to get behind our partnership over the next two seasons to help us to make it a successful one."

If you would like to find out more about the work of Include Youth visit www.includeyouth.org or follow @IncludeYouth.  More launch photos can be viewed here.

ENDS

Media Enquiries: For more information contact Sharon Whittaker at Include Youth on 028 9031 1007 or [email protected].