Cochrane welcomes funding for rugby community work

Alliance Social Development spokesperson and Vice-Chair of the Assembly All Party Group on Rugby, Judith Cochrane MLA has welcomed the funding that has been awarded to the Irish Rugby Football Union to take part in the “Sport in the Community” project. The £133,000 from the Department of Social Development will help initiatives such as shared learning workshops, community outreach initiatives and volunteer training and development.

Judith Cochrane MLA said: “Sport can play such a vital role in helping enrich our communities. While everyone is aware of the big matches that happen at Ravenhill, Windsor Park or Casement Park, it is the grassroots work that can actually play the most important part in our society.

“Most of this work is dependent on volunteers so it is good to see funding for these projects to help further develop some of the initiatives that they are involved in. This funding is further recognition of the good work they are doing.

“Sport can be a great way to bring people together and this is evident at Ravenhill on Friday nights. As a keen supporter of the work that the IRFU and the Ulster Branch are doing, I would like to wish them continued success this season as well as in the work that they are doing in the community.”

ENDS