Sports Facilities Funding Appeal

£1,000,000 Target

Help us build our sporting facilities for future generations

Your Support for Transformational Change at Coleraine Grammar School

Transformational change with multi-million-pound investment is taking place at Coleraine Grammar School.

An iconic new building at the front of the campus will provide state of the art music facilities, modern social and study accommodation for sixth form and further new classrooms. 

Several renovation projects are also taking place, including the transformation of the basement of the school’s original 1860 building into an ultra-modern fitness suite and PE provision for all our pupils.

Several years ago, the provision of a wonderful new boat house with coeducational changing facilities ensured that rowing would thrive in the new school, and the pupils have exceeded all expectations.  This year, new rowing steps have been installed, and they will enable many generations of pupils to maintain and enhance our unique and special rowing status.

Work is now underway to update our Games Hall at the Ballycairn Road, and we have also begun to modernise the historic War Memorial Pavilion changing facility.

The above is transformational change for Coleraine Grammar School, but it is not enough to fulfil our vision for the new school.

Download More Information on the funding appeal (PDF)

Fulfilling our vision for the new school

We need the support of the school community, locally and further afield to provide an Astroturf pitch at the Ballycairn Road playing fields to be used for multi-sports, and most importantly, girls’ hockey.

This final addition will complete the big picture, so that we will have achieved everything shown in the section below.

This is transformational change by any standard.

The school community can help us finish the projects to complete the big picture, and realise our vision for Coleraine Grammar School with the best extra-curricular facilities.

You can help us to empower our present and future pupils to flourish in every way.

Dr D.R.J. Carruthers, Headmaster

Completing The Big Picture
  • New rowing pavilion
  • New rowing steps
  • Upgraded Games Hall
  • Renovated War Memorial Pavilion (male and female changing facilities)
  • New building at the front of the school by September 2023
  • Renovations, including in the original 1860 building
  • New Astroturf facility
How To Give

PayPal:
colerainegrammar@gmail.com

Bank Transfer:
Acc: 80030384
Sort Code: 95-06-14

Cheques Payable to
“Coleraine Grammar School”

Standing Order:
Complete below form

Email Us
Pay Using PayPal
Pay On Just Giving Page
Download Standing Order Form
Download Gift Aid Form

One Off Donations

Private individuals or corporates

Up to £5,000

  • Named in opening ceremony programme

£5,000 – £10,000

  • Named in opening ceremony programme
  • Website advertising

Over £10,000

  • Named in opening ceremony programme
  • Website advertising
  • Name/Logo on name board

Regular Donations

Private individuals. 7 year commitment sought. Donor to set up standing order with their bank.

Gold Sponsor (£50pm)

  • Named in opening ceremony programme
  • Ticket to opening ceremony
  • £750 per year inc. Gift Aid
  • £5250 over 7 years inc. Gift Aid

Silver Sponsor (£35pm)

  • Named in opening ceremony programme
  • £525 per year inc. Gift Aid
  • £3675 over 7 years inc. Gift Aid

Bronze Sponsor (£20pm)

  • Named in opening ceremony programme
  • £300 per year inc. Gift Aid
  • £2100 over 7 years inc. Gift Aid

Sponsorship Donations

Pitch Perimeter Advertising Board

  • £15,000 for 5 years

Pitch Sponsor

  • £50,000+

“By joining in and giving to this Appeal, all of us in the School and local community will secure the sporting tradition of the School and make being “better” never truly beyond the reach of any pupil.”

Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for County Londonderry

“CGS is committed to making sport a prominent part of school life but they will need our help and support to make that a reality. Please give generously to this appeal, not just so that we can have future Olympic champions but so that all pupils may have the chance of finding sports they enjoy.”

Richard Archibald, Olympic Rower

“The Governor and Trustees of The Honourable The Irish Society wish to emphasise their full support for the project to create a special fund for the development of sport in Coleraine Grammar School.”

The Hon. The Irish Society

William Oliver
President of the Board of Governors

Letter from President.

When I addressed those present at our Prizegiving in October 2019 I told you that the School had received a commitment to have the School on one site in 2022, but that we had not received any funding to provide adequate sporting facilities for boys and girls. Since then, for various reasons, the building programme led by the Department of Education, has been delayed with the projected handover now 2023 but there is still no offer to upgrade the sports facilities. The Headmaster has always held strongly to the belief that adequate facilities must be provided in all spheres of school life and the Board of Governors continue to support this stance.

In October 2019 I told you of the urgent need to upgrade the rowing facility, to renovate the War Memorial Pavilion and to provide an Astroturf pitch for hockey. I am pleased to tell you that the rowing facility project is now complete and the contractor is now on site to commence the renovation of the pavilion. We are currently submitting the planning application for the hockey pitch. Obviously, now that this is a co-educational school it is only right and fair that the girls participating in our sporting activities enjoy facilities equal to those previously provided for boys. For this reason, a high-quality hockey pitch is now essential.

All of this requires funding and whilst we have to date secured external funding of over £250,000, we still need to raise another £750,000. We believe that this area needs a first-class grammar school with first class facilities, and it is for that reason that we are targeting this appeal, not only at parents and former pupils but also at the wider community. It is your school, a school for your children and grand-children and a school educating your future employees.

Details of how to contribute to the success of our school and the appeal is enclosed or visit www.justgiving.com/colerainegrammarschool and I thank you for your support.

William Oliver – President of the Board of Governors
Words of Support From...

HM Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for County Londonderry

That’s the thing about better.  You can’t own it.  You can only pursue it.  Stalk it.  But once you’ve tasted it, better is never truly beyond your reach.”  (Graeme McDowell – Pupil at the School 1991-1998 Major Winner and Ryder Cup Golfer who played golf for the School).

53 years ago, the School was visited by their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Kent.  The Duke opened the old River Pavilion.  The visit recognised the sporting prowess of the school at that time including the 1948 Olympian Dan Taylor.  Since 1968 the School has nurtured 5 more Olympians and so many International sportswomen and sportsmen across a wide spectrum – from 2015 alone 40 pupils have achieved Provincial and National Representative Honours across 11 sports whilst at the School and afterwards.

As a sister, wife and mother of past pupils of the school and as a former Governor I am hugely proud not only of my own family connection to the sporting rolls but of the school itself.  Throughout the 161 year history of the School – originally Coleraine High and Coleraine Inst and now as the merged Coleraine Grammar – it has, almost without parallel for its size, encouraged sporting talent alongside academic achievement.

By joining in and giving to this Appeal, all of us in the School and local community will secure the sporting tradition of the School and make being “better” never truly beyond the reach of any pupil.

HM Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for County Londonderry

The Hon. The Irish Society

The Governor and Trustees of The Honourable The Irish Society wish to emphasize their full support for the project to create a special fund for the development of sport in Coleraine Grammar School.

The Society has been an active supporter of the current school and its predecessors since the mid-19th Century and it remains close to the school, not least through having a representative on the Board of Governors.  We are aware of the unfortunate shortcomings of sports provision in many areas currently, set against the desire of the Board, staff and parents to provide the best possible facilities for the boys and girls who attend the school and who deserve this.

We believe that the creation of a special fund through this appeal will enable a wide range of sporting activities to benefit at Coleraine Grammar School which will maintain the proud tradition of sporting excellence and broad participation in healthy activities by as many young people as possible.

The Hon. The Irish Society

Richard Archibald – Olympian

Coleraine Grammar School is striving to create an environment where there are countless opportunities for pupils to discover and experience academic and extra-curricular activities, so that pupils can explore and test themselves. I was not a ‘sporty’ pupil when I joined Coleraine Inst in the late 1980’s and put considerable thought into how to get out of games and after-school sport. Ironic then that many of my fondest memories are from my later years in the school after I discovered the rowing club.

For the opportunities that I had, and the thousands of other past pupils of the former schools, there needed to be the skills within the school to offer the sports, and the facilities. Investment in facilities can last generations. Others contributed to ensure that I had a range of sports to choose from, and now it is our turn to make that contribution.

CGS is committed to making sport a prominent part of school life but they will need our help and support to make that a reality. Please give generously to this appeal, not just so that we can have future Olympic champions but so that all pupils may have the chance of finding sports they enjoy.

Richard Archibald – Olympian

Mrs R Bovaird – Head of PE

Coleraine Grammar School strives to get the best out of every pupil. Through the continuum of sport and Physical Education we aspire to not only develop talented athletes but also promote the physical, mental and social health of all pupils at school. We take pride in offering a wide variety of sports as we firmly believe that there is an activity for everyone.

We take pride in watching our pupils increase in confidence, develop team work and leadership skills as well as learning valuable skills which assist in improving their concentration and behaviour. COVID-19 has negatively impacted on the mental health of our young people and there is no greater time than now to encourage young people to become more active.

Mrs R Bovaird – Head of PE

Mr R Boyd – Head of Sport

At Coleraine Grammar School our aim is for pupils to enjoy their sport, to build lifelong friends, experience memorable and challenging moments which will help shape them for later life. Dedicated and passionate staff ensure pupils fulfil their potential whilst playing alongside their friends in a thriving team environment. There is an extensive range of extra-curricular sport on offer at Coleraine Grammar School, in which all students are welcome to participate, regardless of ability or experience. We encourage everyone to try new sports until they discover the ones they love. In so doing they will learn the many transferable values of sport we promote at school, such as teamwork and resilience. We pride ourselves on offering an assortment of activities that actively encourage inclusivity.

Coleraine Grammar School is renowned for its sport and very proud of the extensive individual and team successes achieved across a range of different sports and activities. The further development of facilities is critical to further enhance the proud reputation of sport and physical activity at the school. Help with this appeal would be another significant step forward and would be greatly appreciated by the staff, volunteers, and pupils involved at present and in the future.

Mr R Boyd – Head of Sport

Head Boy

Within a week of starting Coleraine Grammar School in September 2015 I was actively involved in 3 of the sports clubs, Rugby, Harriers and Badminton. This was followed up in the summer term by Athletics and Cricket. The emphasis on creating both an enjoyable yet highly competitive sporting environment has allowed our various teams to thrive.  As I’ve progressed through the school rugby has taken focus as my main sporting endeavour. Our rugby teams have continually “punched above our weight” when it comes to taking on the likes of Belfast Inst, Campbell and Ballymena Academy, with our 2019 Medallion team ranked as the No.2 Seed for the Medallion Shield. Furthermore, alongside our rugby dominance in the area we are often frontrunners at the regional and national athletics and Harriers events, and our First Year Cricket team managed to reach the NI Final in 2016.

Overall, as someone with a passion for sport and competition it has been a great experience to compete for the school and with additional sporting facilities many more pupils will have the ability to enjoy the variety of sports available and continue to enhance the sporting reputation of the school.

Head Boy

Head Girl

I am a strong believer of the link between my successful educational achievements and my physical, social and mental well-being which I can confidently say developed alongside the sporting opportunities I was given within the school.

In my early days of CGS I was introduced to a wide range of completely new sports I had never experienced, thus teaching me how to explore my inner self. The hockey pitch was a place which gave me the opportunity to meet new friends and where my confidence developed as a pupil in a new school. The skill of teamwork which evolved in me through playing hockey is one in which has been essential throughout my past 7 years both inside the classroom benefitting my education and outside in daily activities.

Head Girl

Sports Photography by David McDonald

Coleraine Grammar

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