About Us

• Background
• Aims and Expected Outcomes
• Network of Local Sports Partnerships
• Development of Waterford Sports Partnership
• Waterford Sports Partnership Strategy 2007-2011
• Structure of Waterford Sports Partnership

Background to the Local Sports Partnership Initiative
In the Irish Sports Council's strategy "A New Era for Sport 2000-2002", the Council proposed to establish a nationwide network of Local Sports Partnerships to create a national structure to co-ordinate and promote the development of sport at local level.

The ISC identified that the effective development of sport and recreation at local level would be best delivered through the adoption of a partnership approach between all bodies and organisations involved in the delivery of sport and recreation locally.

Aims and Expected Outcomes
The key aims of the local sports partnerships are to increase participation in sport and physical activity especially amongst specific target groups and to ensure that local resources are put to their best possible use.

The outcomes that the ISC seek from local sports partnerships are:

Enhanced planning of sport at local level

Increased levels of local participation, especially amongst specific target groups - older people, girls and women, people with disabilities, unemployed people and those who live in identified disadvantaged communities

Enhanced local coach deployment

Club development

Volunteer training

Local Directories of sports bodies and facilities

Better use of existing facilities

Clear priorities for local facility provision and improvement

School/club/community and possibly school - National Governing Body link

Local sports events

The three main functions of LSP's are summarised by the ISC as follows:

Information:
- To provide information on sport and physical activity

Education:
- To provide/support quality opportunities for education and training at local level

Implementation:
- To implement a locally developed Strategic Plan which will include the implementation of national programmes at local level

Network of Local Sports Partnerships
The first eight partnerships, in a national network of Local Sports Partnerships, were launched in May 2001. The initial areas selected to pilot the programme were; Clare, Kildare, Donegal, Laois, North Tipperary, Roscommon, Sligo, and Fingal, Co. Dublin. Then in June 2002, four more Partnerships were launched in Waterford, Meath, Cork, and Limerick City. Following their commitment with their initiative "Sport for Life 2003-2006", the ISC established an additional four LSP's in Kerry, Kilkenny, Mayo, and Westmeath in 2003.

There is now a network of 33 Local Sports Partnerships around Ireland. The following LSP's are in operation: Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork City, County Cork, Donegal, Dublin City, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal, Galway City, Galway County, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick City, Limerick County, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, North Tipperary, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, South County Dublin, South Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow.

Development of Waterford Sports Partnership
Following the Irish Sports Council's competition process in 2001, Waterford was designated as a developmental local sports partnership site and officially launched in June 2002. Following the recruitment of staff the partnership was officially opened in January 2003. One of the first key tasks for the partnership was to develop a local strategic plan for sport and physical recreation for Waterford. An extensive consultation process took place during 2003 with the local community, agencies, sports organisations both locally and nationally and with the Irish Sports Council. The Waterford Sports Partnership Strategy 2003-2006 was launched in January 2004.

In 2007, Waterford Sports Partnership commissioned a strategic review of the work completed since 2003 and this report set out the key achievements and key recommendations going forward that informed the development of the 2007-2011 Strategy.

The Key Achievements 2003-2006 were summarised as follows:

An excellent start and a focused approach to the implementation of the 2003-2006 Strategy

Established WSP structures and board

Quality and committed Staff, Board and Executive

Positive relationship developed between agencies and partners throughout Waterford

Positive relationships with volunteers, clubs, schools and National Governing Bodies (NGBs)

Quality programmes in place to increase participation and quality of opportunity in schools, clubs and community

Quality Training and Education Programme in place

The Key Recommendations for the Future were outlined as follows:

Continuation of many existing programmes

Discerning approach to future programme selection

Focus on promoting volunteerism required

Need for development of monitoring, evaluation and management information systems

Strategic focus on building relationships and networks to encourage greater collaboration

Waterford Sports Partnership Strategy 2007-2011

In August 2007 Waterford Sports Partnership launched the Strategic Review of the Strategy 2003-2006 and the new Strategic Plan 2007 - 2011 entitled 'Everyone Active'.

Vision
Waterford Sports Partnership’s Vision for the future is: “Everyone Active”

Mission Statement
Our Mission is to plan, co-ordinate, enable, assist and develop quality opportunities with the people of Waterford to facilitate their participation in sports and physical activities.

How we approach our work
We discuss with organisations and individuals, at a local and national level, the sports and physical activity needs and opportunities in Waterford. We develop, co-ordinate and/or deliver projects and activities in partnership with those individuals and organisations. We also encourage people to take responsibility for these projects and activities so that they can be self- sustaining.