Methodist College Belfast students volunteer at All Stars Club, boosting sports inclusion and inspiring others to help.
Volunteers keep clubs like this going. Johnny Gillespie and Adam Scully help a lot. They show how important young people are. These teens give their time each weekend.
Johnny and Adam are both seventeen. They attend Methodist College Belfast. They started with All Stars last year. Their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award brought them there.
Johnny learned of it through his mom. A Facebook post also caught his eye. He enjoys helping the athletes and sees them grow stronger. It only takes an hour each Sunday!
Adam joined because of his friend Johnny. He saw the huge impact they made. He now understands the lack of sports inclusion and helps create an inclusive space.
Special Olympics Ulster wants more volunteers. They need people in Belfast to assist. Jackie Neill leads the All Stars Club. She says Johnny and Adam changed things.
The teens connect well with the athletes and can easily relate to them. It warms her heart to see those bonds. Sometimes, few volunteers show at all, and the club can’t even run.
Special Olympics Ulster aids many athletes. 1,100 athletes use 52 clubs there. They train and compete thanks to volunteers and could reach national levels too.
You can volunteer weekly or at events and your time will truly make a difference. Shaun Cassidy works for Special Olympics Ulster; you don’t need special skills to help.
Students and others are welcome and can consider it for Duke of Ed awards. It’s a great way to impact lives. Athletes you aid could go to world games and might compete in Santiago in 2027.