Healthy Louth secures funding to expand Homeless Street League

Healthy Louth has been awarded €20,000 from the Adult Literacy for Life (ALL) Collaboration and Innovation Fund to deliver an expanded version of the Irish Homeless Street League in County Louth. 

The funding will support the development of ‘Health Kicks’, a unique project that combines weekly football with on-site health checks, accessible workshops, and practical health information for individuals affected by or at risk of homelessness.

The initiative is being delivered in partnership with the Irish Homeless Street League, Dundalk Simon Community, Drogheda Homeless Aid, the FAI, and the HSE Health Promotion Team, and is led by Healthy Louth under the remit of the Healthy Ireland Programme.

Weekly football sessions are already underway every Tuesday at Quay Celtic, Dundalk, offering participants a chance to connect, build a routine, and enjoy physical activity in a supportive environment.

With support from the Adult Literacy for Life (ALL) Collaboration & Innovation Fund, the Health Kicks project will now:

• Establish a new Homeless Street League in Drogheda, expanding access to sport and wellbeing supports across County Louth
• Introduce pop-up health checks and information stands at football sessions
• Deliver workshops in local services on topics like mental health, dental care, nutrition, and self-care

The aim is to improve health literacy, helping participants better understand health information and access local supports with confidence.

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“This funding is a game-changer,” said Paula Keenan, Healthy Louth Coordinator. “We’re taking football as a starting point, and building in real tools for wellbeing, trusted information, approachable health checks, and spaces for learning. Health Kicks is about meeting people where they are and helping them to move forward.”

Chris O’Brien, CEO of the Irish Homeless Street League, said: “Louth is showing leadership with this model. Football brings people together, and when that’s paired with education and health supports, it can change lives.”

Health Kicks is designed in close collaboration with local service providers and the participants themselves, ensuring that the content is relevant, accessible, and delivered in familiar, comfortable settings. The project will be evaluated through surveys, interviews, and ongoing feedback to measure improvements in participants’ health knowledge, confidence, and wellbeing.

Ger Murphy, Director of Services, Louth County Council, added: “This is a creative, compassionate approach to inclusion and health, and it’s exactly the kind of work that makes a real difference.”

Niamh McShane, Adult Literacy for Life Coordinator for Louth & Meath, also welcomed the project, saying: “Health Kicks is a fantastic example of how literacy goes beyond reading and writing. It’s about giving people the confidence and understanding to make informed choices in their daily lives. We’re proud to support a project that brings health learning to life in such an accessible and innovative way.”

Healthy Louth hopes the model will act as a blueprint for similar projects in other counties.