Limerick Sports Partnership has secured €280,000 in funding from the Dormant Accounts Fund.
The investment aims to engage communities across Limerick, focusing on people living in disadvantaged communities, people with a disability, women and girls, and people who are educationally disadvantaged.
Inclusion is a core value within sport, with sports inclusion disability projects also being prioritised within the funding.
Projects that will be supported by the funding include:
The announcement was made by Sport Ireland of national funding totalling €6.1m in Tranche 1 Dormant Accounts Funding for a wide range of sport and physical activity measures across Ireland through the Local Sports Partnership Network, Cara, and Sport Ireland.
Phelim Macken, Coordinator of Limerick Sports Partnership said: “This ongoing funding stream is central to the work of Limerick Sports Partnership in the community. The Sports Hubs are a great investment where multi annual funding is secured to facilitate planning, progression and sustainability.”
“Active Cities is a growing concept based on the GAPPA framework where we explore our role around, Active Systems, Active Environments, Active Societies and Active people. Youth Leaders and Peer mentors are a great asset in promoting sport and physical activity in the community and these initiatives will help ‘Get Girls Active’.”
“The sports inclusion disability fund will help purchase capital equipment to ensure all ability levels have the opportunity to be active.”
Minister for Sport Catherine Martin TD, said: “This latest round of funding for the promotion and development of sport amongst those experiencing disadvantage or with a disability shows the Government’s determination to bring in a targeted and focused way the benefits of sport and physical activity to these marginalised communities. This €6.1m. programme of measures will help to address inequalities in sports participation, in particular those experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage.”
Government Chief Whip and Minister of State for Sport and the Gaeltacht Jack Chambers TD added: “I am delighted to announce this significant investment of Dormant Accounts Funding to develop and promote participation initiatives aimed at disadvantaged communities. A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of launching a new €2m. fund for the provision by sports clubs of sport opportunities for people with disabilities. Today’s announcement of a further €6.1m. of Dormant Accounts funding will enable us to provide further targeted measures to make sport available for all, not just for those that have easier access to sports facilities or can afford it. I am excited about the range and variability in this programme. Not only does the programme seek to address and promote decisive action on contemporary issues and challenges such as the importance of sport for at-risk youth in urban settings or in helping young people to cope with exam pressures, there are also some very welcome initiatives aimed at securing longer-term benefits through youth leadership development and research studies into the unique problems presented in disadvantaged communities.”
This investment is closely aligned with the National Sports Policy and the National Physical Activity Plan, with the funding being disseminated into three areas:
A particular emphasis is placed on implementing programmes to promote physical activity, making sport and physical activity accessible to people from diverse backgrounds, people with a disability and the development of programmes to address transitions and drop out from physical activity.
Accessibility, availability, and opportunity are components to the Dormant Accounts Funding, with this investment showcasing the importance of increasing activity levels for people in Limerick.
Dr. Úna May, Chief Executive of Sport Ireland said: “The Dormant Accounts Funding will enable Sport Ireland to further support our Local Sports Partnerships and Cara to provide equal opportunities for everyone, regardless of their circumstances. The National Sports Policy 2018-2027 has provided the framework for Sport in Ireland to continue to grow and this investment through the LSP’s and Cara will play an important part in increasing activity levels of people in Sport in Ireland and removing the barriers and preventative aspects for getting involved in sport.”
For more information check out Limericksports.ie or phone 061 333600
Phelim Macken
LSP Coordinator