Make It Happen Awards

Our ‘Make It Happen’ awards have been presented annually since 2014 to outstanding athletes who are selected from a top-class field following a competitive interview process. Judged in November each year, successful athletes are officially announced early the following year.

The winning applicants are those who are deemed to benefit most from accessing specialist cutting-edge training and development opportunities to help propel their sporting careers to the next level.
Lady Mary Peters explains, “These additional cash awards are presented to the very best of our emerging young talent and are vital in making a difference to an athlete’s progress and opportunities to improve.

“We are thrilled that Power NI have also partnered with us in 2025 to provide an extra Make it Happen award. We hugely appreciate their support.”

Power NI’s support packs a punch for rising boxing talent

Energy provider Power NI has teamed up with the Mary Peters Trust to help promising young boxer Louis Rooney with a December 2024 Make it Happen award sponsored by Power NI.

19-year-old Belfast boxing sensation Louis Rooney fights in the light flyweight division and he has been proving a real knockout at home and abroad.

He currently holds the belt for the Irish Under 22 age category and clinched the European Under 22 age category title in Sofia, Bulgaria, back in October. Louis was also victorious at the 2024 Romanian Belts and Ulster Elite competitions respectively, while in 2023 he was crowned Irish Under 18 champion and in 2022 was the Irish & Ulster Youth champion.

The extra support from ‘Make it Happen’ is worth £2,000, and the money will be focused on helping Louis prepare for 2025 World Elite Championships in England (September 2025) by providing specialist coaching.

Power NI’s Managing Director William Steele said: “Through our long-standing partnership with Mary Peter’s Trust, we’re delighted to sponsor a ‘Make it Happen’ award which celebrates the remarkable achievements and potential of young athletes across Northern Ireland. It’s inspiring to see the dedication and resilience these athletes represent and we’re thrilled to play a part in helping them pursue their sporting careers further.”

Presented annually since 2014, ‘Make it Happen’ winners are selected from a top-class field of athletes following a competitive interview process, with the winning applicant the one deemed to benefit most from accessing the award’s specialist skills and knowledge.

On the support received from award partner Power NI, Lady Mary Peters said: “Awards such as this are given to the best young sporting talent from Northern Ireland and they are vital to help them develop and progress, achieve greatness, and realise their dreams.

“Thanks to Power NI’s generosity, Louis will be able to benefit from expert training – and tuition – inside and outside the ring. Northern Ireland has a long and distinguished history of producing boxing greats, from Wayne McCullough to Paddy Barnes, and I am confident Louis will give his best and make the most of this life changing Make it Happen support.”

Louis – who will represent Team Ireland at the World Championships and Team NI at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland – said ‘Make it Happen’ will make a “massive difference” to his boxing career as he continues to pursue more glory.

Badminton star Paige continues to ace it with Trust’s Make It Happen award support

Eighteen-year-old badminton ace Paige Woods has secured a £2000 Mary Peters Trust Make it Happen funding award to support her development programme and ultimately realise her sporting dream of competing at an Olympic Games.

The Hunterhouse College A Level student and Alpha Badminton Club competitor has represented Ulster and Ireland at every level (U13s to U19s) since she was nine and this year moves up a level and aims to compete in senior championships at home and abroad.

Currently number 1 in Ireland at U19 level for both Ladies and Mixed Doubles and number 4 for Ladies Doubles seniors and U19 Ladies Singles, Paige represented Ireland along with club colleague Roisin Mckenna at the 2024 European Juniors (U19s) held in Ibiza, Spain during December.

Team Ireland started with a victory over Portugal (3-2) with Paige and Roisin winning both their matches, before Ireland lost out to Germany and Belgium. Alpha Badminton Club paid tribute to both girls saying, “It was such an incredible achievement for these two young women at the Europeans. We couldn’t be prouder of you both.”

The Trust’s ‘Make It Happen’ awards are presented annually to outstanding athletes helping them take advantage of specialist cutting-edge training and development opportunities aimed at propelling their sporting careers to the next level.

Paige’s home club, Lisburn based Alpha Badminton believes she has tremendous potential, and the teenager has chalked up a huge number of medal successes in the past two years. These include Gold in the Ladies Doubles Munster U19 Open and the Ladies Doubles Grade A Nationals in Dublin. She also achieved Silver in the Munster U19 Mixed Doubles, the Senior Nationals Ladies Doubles and the U19 Irish Open Ladies Doubles held in Dublin. Added to this list of accolades, is a bronze in the U19 Portuguese Open Ladies Doubles.

Paige explains, “Now that I’ll be competing at senior level, my goal is to be selected for the Senior Irish Team and to play overseas in the Senior Future Series Events.”

Congratulating Paige on all her achievements to date, Lady Mary Peters said, “I know Paige and her ‘Badminton’ family very well and she is a highly committed and hardworking young athlete who will benefit immensely from our Make It Happen Award funding.

“A Trust award will enable Paige to benefit from additional ‘away from home’ training sessions, strength and conditioning classes combined with an acclimatisation programme as well as helping her to take part in regional and provincial championships.

“Our Make it Happen awards are presented to the very best emerging young talent helping them to source targeted support and aid development leading to future success and ultimately medal wins.

“I look forward to following Paige’s sporting journey and I know she will give of her very best to achieve goals and reach her Olympic Games dream.”

World Championships on the horizon for Whitehead sailor with special award from Mary Peters Trust

Irish development squad sailor Ellen Barbour’s key goal this year is to compete in the World Championships taking place in Calgliari, Sardinia, 7-13th October 2025.

To help her reach this milestone, the 49er FX competitor has been awarded a £2000 Make It Happen funding award by the Mary Peters Trust.

The Trust’s ‘Make It Happen’ awards are presented annually to outstanding athletes helping them take advantage of specialist cutting-edge training and development opportunities aimed at propelling their sporting careers to the next level.

“Winter training camps in Cadiz and Vilamoura will help prepare me for competitions at Kiel and Gdynia ahead of the Junior World Championships in Copenhagen,” explains Ellen, “Then hopefully I’ll be in the best position to excel at the ‘Worlds’ in Sardinia.”

Ellen, who is from Whitehead, County Antrim, competes in the 49er FX class (a double-handed high performance sailing dinghy) with good friend Erin McIlwaine from Kilkeel.

The 49er FX is a women’s Olympic class designed to suit the weight of an elite female crew. Whilst Ellen and Erin have trained together as part of the RYA Northern Ireland Sailing Academy since their early teens, their sailing partnership only began in March 2024. “We each suit our different roles very well and work brilliantly together,” says Ellen.

Both girls are studying Physiotherapy at Trinity College Dublin and train at the Royal St George Yacht Club in Dún Laoghaire near to where the Irish Sailing Performance Centre is based.

“I’m thrilled to receive a Make it Happen Award. It’s vital financial support which helps keep me on track and be ready for the big competitions. Ultimately my dream goal (and Erin’s too!) is Olympics qualification for LA in 2028 and beyond to Brisbane 2032.”

Ellen’s and Erin’s top achievements in 2024 include, 11th place Female 49er FX (1st Irish) at Kiel Week, Germany; a Top 20 place in the Junior World Championships (1st Irish) and taking 1st overall in the 49er FX class at the Vilamoura Grand Prix in Portugal.

Congratulating Ellen, Lady Mary Peters said, “These additional cash awards presented to the very best of our emerging young talent are vital in making a difference to an athlete’s progress and opportunities to improve.

“I wish Ellen and her sailing partner Erin (also an MPT athlete) the very best of luck for her training camps and upcoming competitions. I know they will give of their very best to achieve goals and secure potential future successes.”
Empowering Young Athletes Across Northern Ireland

The Mary Peters Trust supports and celebrates the next generation of sporting talent.

Athletes

About MPT

Contact us

  • Mary Peters Trust, Athletics House, Old Coach Road, Belfast, BT9 5PR
  • 03331889143
  • info@marypeterstrust.org

Empowering Young Athletes Across Northern Ireland

The Mary Peters Trust supports and celebrates the next generation of sporting talent.

Contact us

  • Mary Peters Trust, Athletics House, Old Coach Road, Belfast, BT9 5PR
  • 03331889143
  • info@marypeterstrust.org