With a strong background in both educational and sports development, Ruairi brings a wealth of experience and commitment to his new role as Regional Development Officer for the North. In his previous role as Programme Director for Debate Mate, he managed large scale communication focused initiatives across primary and secondary schools in three major UK cities. He developed a thorough understanding of how to engage young people through structured programmes that foster academic, social, and personal growth. His work focussed on improving social mobility and providing young people from diverse backgrounds with the skills and confidence needed to succeed—an approach he is eager to continue in his new role.
Alongside his work in education, Ruairi has extensive experience in sports coaching, working with a wide range of age groups, from lower primary school to open-age teams. More specifically his experiences coaching in handball have provided him with the fundamental understanding as to how the sport can develop not only physical ability but also essential life skills such as leadership, teamwork, and resilience; attributes that Ruairi believes are critical for empowering individuals and improving social mobility, helping prepare younger generations for future success.
“I’m incredibly excited to take on this new role and work towards creating more opportunities for young people in the North,” Ruairi said. “In my experience, participation and education through sport have the power to unlock skills that make a real difference in people’s lives. I look forward to contributing to the region’s growth and ensuring that young people have access to sport—and more specifically handball—so they can build a brighter future.”
We look forward to welcoming Ruairi to our team and are very excited for him to share his past experiences alongside his passion for Handball and its development. Ruairi joins us at an exciting time of change with multiple new projects looking to be launched in 2025.
National Manager for Club and Community Development, Harriet comments: “We are thrilled to be welcoming Ruairi to our dynamic team. His previous experiences coupled with his passion for handball make him a brilliant asset to support the growth on handball in and around the North. We are very excited to see him in action and look forward to him becoming a staple of the handball community in the North.”
Welcome Ruairi to England Handball. If you would like to get in touch with Ruairi please see below his contact details: ruairioconnor-harte@englandhandball.com
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