At the LFC Foundation, we engage with 3 different football clubs in Dublin, Ireland to deliver LFC Foundation-focused programmes to local children and young people. The clubs, Bohemians FC, Shelbourne FC, and Shamrock Rovers FC, deliver community interventions including provision in schools, youthwork engagement, and wider programmes to support vulnerable groups. The Foundation also provides training to upskill coaches as part of their professional development. Last season, with LFC Foundation, the three clubs have supported 10,547 local participants

Highlighting recent stories from each club:

Shamrock Rovers

In June, the Shamrock Rovers brought their TY students to a local primary school, a DEIS school, delivering equality of opportunity in schools around Ireland, to give a talk and some gifts. This included jerseys, programmes, and even tickets to their next game at Tallaght Stadium. This was a great moment as they brought their club education programme and the local community together for this project. It was so well received by the school visited that they have started talks on delivering a bespoke programme to the school.

The Shamrock Rovers also hosted football summer camps for almost 2,000 kids of different levels and abilities, running in multiple locations in Dublin through July and August.

Bohemian FC

Throughout the summer, Bohemian FC has run a programme in partnership with homeless charity, Focus Ireland, to provide children living in homeless accommodation hubs in Dublin City Centre the opportunity to play football. For children living in these hubs, there is no indoor space for them to play in, and outdoor green spaces in the City Centre are extremely limited. 

For many children, they are confined to their rooms for most of the day and with the school holidays, many face extended periods of isolation and reduced physical exercise and social interaction. The programme not only allowed for increased physical exercise but it provided a social outlet for the children and their families. 

While the programme intended to provide respite for the parents, we found that a lot of the parents stayed for the duration of the sessions and, in some instances, got involved in the sessions. The programme became a source of structure and routine for the families during what is an extremely turbulent and unsettling time for them. The programme was so successful that we have been asked to run it for a second homeless hub in a different part of the city. 

Shelbourne Football Club

In 2022, a ground breaking collaboration blossomed between the LFC Foundation and Shelbourne FC, leading to the inception of a vital Inclusion program tailored for St. Michael's House in north Dublin. St. Michael's House, a cornerstone of support in the community, dedicates itself to providing comprehensive services and unwavering assistance to 2,300 adults and children living with disabilities and their families.

The core objective of this innovative program was to dismantle barriers and foster enthusiastic participation in football, simultaneously championing enhanced fitness and overall well-being for the service users of St. Michael's House. What began as a modest initiative with just 7 regular attendees in 2022 has, through dedication and consistent effort, burgeoned into a thriving community of 40 enthusiastic participants by 2025, a testament to the program's profound impact and growing appeal.

This immersive experience played a pivotal role in positively promoting their mental and physical well-being, extending its beneficial ripple effect to their families. The entire breadth and success of this transformative opportunity were made possible solely through the unwavering and generous partnership with the LFC Foundation. Their commitment provided the essential resources, expertise, and encouragement that empowered this program to flourish and truly make a difference in the lives of so many.