Carlow Sports Partnership organised 8 inclusive camps over 6 weeks with over 200 participants in conjunction with local sports clubs and national governing bodies of sport. Activities included Learn to Cycle, Rugby, Basketball, GAA, FAI and Water sports.
We were delighted to be able to offer a packed summer of inclusive camps across the County. All camps operated in strict adherence to Covid19 protocols.
A total of 212 children, teenagers, and adults with additional needs participated over the course of the 6 weeks.
Our most popular camp was the Learn to Cycle camps, where 62 children learned the life skill of cycling a bike.
Cycling Camps: Our first 2 cycling camps were held in St Pat’s College, Carlow from 14th – 16th July. The third cycling camp took place in the Queen of the Universe NS in Bagenalstown from 21st – 23rd July. There were 62 children over the 3 camps.
Rugby Camp: Building on the success of the Bee’s Inclusive Rugby team we were delighted to support Carlow Rugby Club with their camp which was held in Carlow Rugby Club from 21st – 23rd July. There were 22 participants in attendance.
Basketball Camp: Carlow Sports Partnership’s first ever inclusive basketball camp was held this year in association with the Camp of Champions Basketball Development Academy in Tyndall College Carlow from 23th – 30th July. There were 20 participants with additional needs in the morning camp with 10 in the afternoon camp. We were delighted to have Basketball Ireland attend this camp on the final day to record a video which will be released on September 12th for international disability awareness day.
GAA Cul Camp: We were delighted to support Carlow GAA for the 3rd year in holding an inclusive cul camp at Netwatch Cullen Park from August 2nd-6th. There were 25 participants with additional needs taking part in both the half and full day camps.
Water Sports Camp: Working alongside Pure Adventure we offered Stand up paddle boarding and Kayaking to teenagers and adults with additional needs from Carlow Town Park up along the River Barrow from August 10th-13th. 16 participants took part in the Kayaking and 16 took part in the paddle boarding.
Football for All FAI Camp: Our final camp of the summer, we worked alongside Carlow FAI for a second year to offer this camp in St.Patricks in Graiguecullen from August 16th-19th. The aim is to start a football for all team in Carlow before the end of the year. We had 38 participants with additional needs over the week.
We would also like to acknowledge our fantastic team of tutors without whom the camps would not have been possible!
See below for a testimonial from a parent of one of the camp participants:
“Just a note to say thank you for the two camps that my daughter attended-Basketball and FAI. She thoroughly enjoyed both and they were run very well. The facilities at both were excellent and the staff/tutors involved were so kind, friendly and welcoming that she settled right in and had a great time. The camps came at a critical time for us as she was really missing social interactions with her peers and these camps allowed her to mix safely with her peers and make new friends. Both camps introduced her to new sports and hopefully she will continue to show an interest in them. Teresa, please keep doing what you are doing as I don’t think you realise what a difference to are making to both children and parents lives”.
