A Banbridge business has donated over 300 footballs to children in the area in a bid to encourage them to get outside and play!
Donaghys Department Store marked the new school year by giving a free football and branded kit bag to every P1 pupil across nine schools in the greater Banbridge area.
They have been distributed through ‘First Kicks’, a new community initiative created by third-generation owners of Donaghys, Peter and Orlagh McVeigh.
First Kicks was developed around a simple idea – give a child a football of their own and it will encourage them to go outside and play.
The campaign was inspired by Orlagh and Peter’s own experiences as parents of four young children – and the familiar challenge of encouraging less screentime and more time playing outdoors.
Orlagh and members of the Donaghys team visited each of the nine participating schools during the first month of the new term to present every P1 pupil with their own football and branded bag.
The participating schools were St Mary’s Primary, Ballydown Primary, The Abercorn Primary, Miltown Primary, Edenderry Primary, Poyntzpass Primary, Bridge Primary , St Joseph & St James Primary, Poyntzpass and St Francis PS, Aghaderg.
Teacher Mrs Dillon, and Orlagh McVeigh, of Donaghys, with P1 pupils from Ballydown Primary School, Banbridge. They recently received a free ‘First Kicks’ football and bag each from Donaghys in Banbridge.
Said Orlagh: “As parents, we know how easy it is for children to spend more and more of their free time on screens. Over the summer, Peter and I were encouraging our own children to get outside. This started a conversation about whether Donaghys could do something positive for other local families too.
“The idea behind First Kicks is very simple. If you give a child a football of their own, there is a good chance they will take it outside and play. It could be their first step towards joining a team, developing new friendships and feeling part of their local community.
“Donaghys has fitted generations of young people with their first shoes and their school shoes so we were delighted to give something back. Nine local schools agreed to take part and it was a real privilege to visit each one. Seeing the children’s excitement when they received their footballs made the campaign especially worthwhile. We hope their First Kicks lead to many hours of fun and an interest in team sports.”
Each child also received a branded bag, making it easier to carry and look after their football. Donaghys Direct, the store’s sister company, supported the initiative by sourcing the products, branding the bags and packing more than 300 individual sets for distribution.
Mrs Dillon, Ballydown Primary School, said: “We want to say a huge thank you to Donaghys and Donaghys Direct for giving the P1 children this opportunity to get outside, to get into sport, the fresh air and away from screen time.
“What an amazing initiative and we cannot thank you enough. The children will have so much fun being outside, playing with their friends and it is all a big thanks to you. What a great way to start the school year.”
Donaghys hopes that this initiative might encourage other businesses to do something similar in their local area and together give more children a chance to participate in sport.
