About Us
- Background
- Aims and Expected Outcomes
- Development of Waterford Sports Partnership
- Network of Local Sports Partnerships
- Functions of the Partnership
- Structure and Board of Waterford Sports Partnership
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 recreation and
- ensure that local resources are used to best effect.
- 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
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 August 2007 Waterford Sports Partnership launched a Strategic Review of the Strategy 2003-2006 along with a new Strategic Plan 2007 - 2011 entitled 'Everyone Active'. The partnership is funded by the Irish Sports Council and Waterford City and Waterford County Councils.
Network of Local Sports Partnerships
Early in 2008 the Minister announced that a further 11 partnerships would be rolled out on top of the 22 already in existence. This will provide national coverage. The following LSP's are in operation: Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork City, County Cork, Donegal, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal, Galway City, Galway County Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick City, Limerick County, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, North Tipperary, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, South County Dublin, South Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath and Wexford.
Waterford is unique being the only partnership which spans two local authority areas.
Functions of Waterford Sports Partnership
The main function areas for Waterford Sports Partnership are
- Gathering and distributing information and conducting research
- Education and training
- Programme development and implementation
- Policy development and forward planning
- Communication between all stakeholders