Published: September 28, 2020
Sport and physical activity in Waterford has received a welcome boost, with €228,190 being allocated to Waterford Sports Partnership through the Dormant Accounts Fund.
The allocation is part of a total investment package of €7.3m in Dormant Accounts Funding announced by Sport Ireland for a wide range of sport and physical activity measures countrywide.
Sport Ireland’s investment aims to engage with communities across the country, focusing on people with disabilities, people who are educationally disadvantaged and from disadvantaged communities.
Included in the allocation to Waterford Sports Partnership is €30,000 for the Cappoquin, Lismore, Villierstown Community Sports Hub, €70,000 for Active Cities, €100,000 for Innovation for Sports Inclusion, €15,590 for Urban Outdoor Adventure Initiatives, €8,600 for Volunteer Supports and €4,000 for Youth Leadership.
Speaking about the new round of Dormant Accounts Funding, Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, Catherine Martin TD, said: “A key priority for Government is the targeting of resources at programmes that seek to address inequalities in sports participation, in particular socio-economic disadvantage. Similarly, we are keen to ensure that interventions are in place to boost participation levels among people with disabilities. The range of measures funded through the Dormant Accounts Fund is helping to make sport and physical activity more inclusive and accessible for many people right across Ireland.”
Minister of State for Sport and the Gaeltacht, Jack Chambers TD, added: “The positive impact of sport and physical activity on our physical and mental wellbeing cannot be overstated. The current pandemic has confirmed the critical importance of sport to Irish society and the uplift it provides to people’s spirits. While keeping us fit, regular physical activity is an excellent social outlet for many. The investment package announced today will have a positive impact on the health of the nation, and support the growth of community and social cohesion through sport.”
Among the successful Dormant Accounts Fund projects announced are thirteen new Innovation projects.
Chairman of Sport Ireland, Kieran Mulvey, commented: “Sport Ireland is delighted with the significant investment of €990,000 in Innovation for Sports Inclusion. These creative Innovation projects have the potential to create solutions to the problems that exist in sports participation. The announcement of thirteen innovation projects is very welcomed, stimulating collaboration within and beyond the sports sector.”
Chief Executive of Sport Ireland, John Treacy, commented: “The increase in Dormant Accounts Funding will enable Sport Ireland, supported by National Governing Bodies and Local Sports Partnerships to have a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of communities throughout Ireland. Key to the work of Sport Ireland is the belief that everyone should have the opportunity to partake in sport and physical activity, no matter what their circumstances.”
As with previous funding announced, the investment is closely aligned with the National Sports Policy and the National Physical Activity Plan. A particular emphasis is placed on implementing programmes to promote physical activity, making sport and physical activity accessible to people with a disability and the development of programmes to address transitions and drop out from physical activity.
Rosarie Kealy, Coordinator of Waterford Sports Partnership said: ‘We are absolutely delighted with the funding allocated to Waterford Sports Partnership for Waterford sport and physical activity initiatives. This was a competitive process and we acknowledge the confidence and trust placed in the WSP team by Sport Ireland to deliver on this investment. Sport and physical activity is of critical importance, now more than ever, for our physical and mental well being. This funding aims in particular to increase inclusion and increase participation rates in areas of socio-economic disadvantage.’
See the full list of funded projects here.
Following on from a taster session for the Lismore Men’s Shed and the No Limits Club on Tuesday the 2nd of May, WSP in partnership with the Lismore Heritage Centre are delivering a three week ‘Come and Try Short Mat Bowling’ Programme starting on Friday 26th May from 7-9pm. These sessions will be lead by Michael O’Rourke from the Bowling Club in Tallow. The men and women who attended the taster session at the start of May all thoroughly enjoyed it, most of them had never played before and with clear instructions from Michael everyone got to play a few games before the end of the session. We look forward to seeing how the sessions go in May as some of the participants have already expressed an interest in setting up a club.
