Collaboration with Olympic Handball Ireland

Olympic Handball Ireland, in partnership with Healthy Kidz, has successfully delivered a Good Relations Olympic Handball Project across Belfast, engaging 24 primary and post-primary schools over two four-week blocks. Funded by the Good Relations Fund, the initiative combined Olympic handball coaching with integrated workshops designed to connect young people from diverse backgrounds through sport. Delivered across the winter and spring term, the programme promoted physical activity, inclusion, and positive community relations, culminating in a large-scale blitz event.

The programme introduced pupils to Olympic handball through structured, high-energy sessions focused on core skills, teamwork, and gameplay. Good Relations content was embedded throughout, promoting respect, inclusion, and cross-community understanding.

Hundreds of young people took part, with strong engagement from schools across Belfast. A key highlight of the initiative was a mid-term camp hosted at Queen’s University Belfast, delivered in partnership between Healthy Kidz and Olympic Handball Ireland. The camp provided an extended opportunity for participants to develop their skills and deepen their experience of the sport while reinforcing the programme’s core values of inclusion and wellbeing.

The initiative concluded with a Good Relations/Olympic Handball Blitz Day, bringing all 24 participating schools together for a day of competition and celebration. The event showcased both sporting progress achieved and the meaningful connections built between pupils.