Bangor Taekwon-Do Club supported by Fibrus Play it Forward Fund

Elite Taekwon-Do NI, based in Bangor, is one of the recipients of the Fibrus Play it Forward Fund 2024. Elite Taekwon-Do NI was established in January 2024 by Dean Pritchard, an instructor in Taekwon-Do for over a decade who has trained in Taekwon-Do for 16 years. The grant awarded to Elite Taekwon-Do through the Play it Forward Fund will allow the relatively new club to purchase new equipment, therefore allowing more children to join the club.

The fund, which is now in its second year, has provided more than £30k to NI groups and organisations this year alone, on top of the funding allocated to grassroots clubs in Cumbria. Over the last two years, the Fibrus Play it Forward fund has contributed £100,000 to sports clubs in both Northern Ireland and Cumbria, England, helping kids get outside and switch off from their devices. In Northern Ireland, almost £60,000 has been allocated to local clubs.

The Play it Forward Fund is designed to support children and young people under the age of 18 by encouraging them to get involved with sports on a community level. It’s aim, however, is to reach beyond sports, empowering children in local communities to prioritise movement, health and wellbeing.

Fibrus has offered grants of up to £1,000 per club which are designed to help with equipment, kits, improving facilities and subsidising training fees.

Linda McMillan, Chief People Officer at Fibrus, said: “We are committed to playing a role in improving the health and wellbeing of children and young people, so investing in local communities is important to us. Our Play It Forward Fund is just one way we do this.

“I’m delighted to see a new batch of clubs benefitting from the Fund’s second year in Northern Ireland, including Elite Taekwon-Do NI. We had a fantastic response to the Fund this year and we are excited to see how our funding helps the clubs we’re supporting in Northern Ireland and Cumbria. Sports and clubs are at the heart of the communities where we operate, and we want to support these communities as widely as we can.”

Dean Pritchard from Elite Taekwon-Do NI commented: “Our club has progressed from strength to strength within a short period of time.  We are inclusive and open to all ages – we have students as young as five years old as well as more mature students. In the last year we have entered our team into five competitions both locally and nationally. Most recently in the Irish National championships in Limerick where we came away with three gold medals.”

“The money provided through the Fibrus Play it Forward Fund has been a massive help to us, as with every new club there are a lot of costs and receiving this support from Fibrus has helped us to be able to purchase equipment. This means that we can progress the students training and hopefully attract some new members to the sport.”

To find out more about the Fibrus Play it Forward Fund please visit here.