UU - Connected to the community Overview Video
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00:00Music
00:28The Ladies Foil Cup was formed in 1992 as part of Unpacked 92 with 8 teams, it now has over 700 teams.
00:34The purpose of the event is to bring people together and to give young people the chance to play from teams from all around the world.
00:40Us at the University are pivotal in the development of the Foil Cup, long even before the event starts we're using the facilities
00:46and then on the day of the tournament itself, the launch day, we take our parade from here.
00:51We also use the halls of residence, not only in Derry but also in Corain and also we're using the facilities.
00:57The pitches on Duncraighan Road and also the University pitches in Corain.
01:01Music
01:13So today's tournament is being run in the Ulster University's pitches here at Magee and it's a pitch that we've been using now for the last 10 years.
01:20It's basically been a stable place for Tracer Football Club and that's why it's critical for us to use it.
01:25We have got over 500 kids at our club and getting them out and playing, it just helps their mental health, their physical health
01:31and they just love it and they just blossom and grow from the use of our facilities to try and become better footballers, become better people.
01:38That's been really important to the local community.
01:40Music
01:45So we've ran the summer camp for a number of years but actually having Ulster University supporting and partnering with us and sponsoring this year has been tremendous.
01:51Being able to use that name as we advertise the summer camp as well has made sure that people are seeing it and seeing the city of Derry and Ulster University
01:58and it's really providing us maybe that bit of gravitas about our summer camp as well.
02:03But at the heart of it all they're developing these skills, these core skills that's going to stand them in good stead in terms of teamwork, relationship building.
02:10Winning and losing as well which is always a key skill but ultimately we're seeing the love of the sport.
02:14Music
02:23With the help of the Ulster University it's allowed us to set up multiple locations throughout the summer in different areas to have more of an impact on children and families
02:31and help different local communities across the border and here in Derry.
02:34It's supporting local clubs and you can see the benefits. Kids are healthier, they're more active, more confidence levels.
02:40So yes, definitely impacting our young people in the communities which is what the Ray McBride Foundation is all about.
02:45Music
02:50We lost our stadium in 2017 with the devastating floods that happened and the university has really helped us.
02:58We've been able to use the facilities here. We have to have regular meetings with parents for our academy teams.
03:03We have to have coaching meetings and the university has provided us with all of those facilities free of charge.
03:09I think that the university has really reached out to the local community and said we are here to serve you.
03:15Music
03:18This is our 50th year in existence and we've always supported grassroots football and the Ulster University has helped us to continue that.
03:24We've been using this facility now for the last 10-15 years and they've allowed us basically to grow our club because of the use of this facility.
03:30This is only year one of the partnership. We hope it really continues and grows because we want to grow this at a grassroots level here
03:37and I know Ulster University want to do the same.
03:39Music