The Water Wings project is funded through the bank’s Community Grants programme for local grass roots projects and kicked off with a fun day of free activities recently.

The event was open to four to 17 year olds and a range of alternative sports including kayaking and orienteering will be available to try out.

Gerry Quinn, manager at the park said: “The Water Wings project has been designed to up-skill our staff and encourage young people to experiment with a range of sports they might not ordinarily get a chance to try.

“We hope the “Meet the Expert” forum in particular will act as a signpost for those interested in continuing with further training in a specific sport. We would like to thank Northern Bank for their generous financial contribution which has made the project possible. “

Staff from the park will also benefit from the project by receiving additional training in delivering activities to GCSE standard.

Veronica Kelly, Branch Manager of Northern Bank Shipquay Place added: “Creggan Country Park provides a fantastic service to the local community.

“The Water Wings programme really appealed to us as a way to encourage young people to try some fun new sports, make training and facilities more accessible to them and encourage continuous involvement.

“It’s a very good example of what our Community Grants programme is all about, supporting a local grass roots project and enhancing sports development in the local community.”