Young people from the Rosses Gate development in Derry-Londonderry laced up their boots for an intensive, three-day football camp led by former Northern Ireland footballer and coach Seamus Heath.
Organised by Choice Housing as part of their region wide Shared Housing Week, the action-packed initiative brought together young sports enthusiasts to sharpen their skills, build teamwork, and promote positive community connections through the power of sport.
Hosted at Choice’s Rosses Gate development, the sessions provided participants with expert coaching, skill-building drills, and small-sided games designed to boost confidence both on and off the pitch.
The initiative formed part of a broader lineup of community development projects across the region, 27 in total, highlighting Choice’s commitment to bringing neighbours together and promoting meaningful engagement within local housing schemes and their local communities.
The camp received support from the Department for Communities (DfC), and Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s ‘Housing for All’ Shared Housing Programme that has its origins in the NI Executive Together: Building a United Community Strategy which reflects its commitment to improving community relations and continuing the journey towards a more united, and shared, society.
Michael McDonnell, Choice Group Chief Executive said: “Choice has a very strong presence across the Derry-Londonderry area, and our Rosses Gate development is the Group’s largest ever scheme with over 500 new homes still under construction.
“Our Shared Housing Week serves as a key platform for our team to connect with tenants and local communities, helping us understand their needs and deliver tailored events, programs, and sessions that bring lasting benefits.
“This year’s theme focuses on our people, communities, and partnerships; all of which lie at the heart of this three-day event. Without the active involvement of our young people, partners, and wider community, initiatives like this simply wouldn’t be possible,” he added.
Rosses Gate is a major mixed-tenure shared housing development in Derry-Londonderry, built near the Clooney Road and Gransha Roundabout in partnership with South Bank Square Ltd. It is supported by the Department for Communities and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.
As part of Housing for All, Choice works in partnership with local statutory, community and voluntary sectors as well as engaging with a wide range of other local stakeholders and residents to develop the scheme’s good relations plan. Rosses Gate will see a potential investment of £21.7m incorporating the development and associated five-year good relations plan.
A key element of the good relations work for shared housing developments is identifying the challenges local communities are facing and using this to develop tailored projects that support these areas. As one of the largest housing associations in Northern Ireland, Choice currently owns and maintains over 14,000 properties, meeting the diverse needs of tenants and residents.
