FINE Gael Councillors Terence Slowey and Martin Harley have announced more than €100,000 funding for Local Sports Partnerships to promote participation across the county.
“This €105,000 funding is a huge boost to the county as the money will go to promote sport and physical activity among people with disabilities, disadvantaged communities and people who are educationally disadvantaged,” Councillor Slowey said.
“Some €40,000 of the money will be channelled through Local Sports Partnerships into specialist sports hubs in Stranorlar, Killybegs and Ballyshannon and separately another €20,000 will be channelled in the same way in Maghery.”
Councillor Harley said: “This is an excellent result for the county. The Community Sports and Physical Activity Hubs in these areas bring local people together and get the right information, support and advice to them and ultimately make it easier to get involved and get more active and live healthier lifestyles.
“Another €15,000 has been earmarked in the county for the Local Sports Partnership to support people who volunteer in disadvantaged communities or to help people with disabilities get the support to go on to coach or referee or work as community leaders.
“It’s about building confidence as well as skills. And it will be hugely beneficial at a local level, getting people engaged and building team spirit.”
Councillor Slowey added: “I’m told the funding package also involves €30,000 to get more people from disadvantaged communities involved in outdoor adventure sports in towns through the Urban Outdoor Adventure Hubs.
“This is all the more worthwhile as it seeks to create new opportunities for young people in disadvantaged communities and people with a disability.”
Councillor Harley added: “These programmes really do vital work to increase participation in sport and physical activity and to get young people in particular thinking and moving in the right direction.
“It is good for health, good for people’s welfare and good for people’s all round wellbeing. At an individual level it can encourage a big change but the community will also reap the rewards.”
The money has been secured from the Dormant Accounts Fund. It will be administered by Sport Ireland.
Councillor Slowey said: “This is about providing the much-needed money to engage people who might otherwise miss out on these opportunities.
“It will promote sport and physical activity in the community and make more and more people feel a part of local clubs and events.
“We’d like to thank Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Brendan Griffin for his focus on this area of sports promotion.”
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