Local Sports Participation Grant Scheme 2023
Carlow Sports Partnership is once again launching the Local Sports Participation Grant Scheme. This fund aims to assist existing clubs and community groups that have physical activity and sport as their primary activity and encourage the set-up of new clubs and groups to promote physical activity and sport. The National Sports Policy 2018 – 2027 highlights the need to prioritise support for minority sports and low participation groups including young people, females, people with a disability, ethnic minorities, older adults, ethnic and clubs/groups located in disadvantaged areas. To access the National Sports Policy, please click here.
How Much Funding is Available?
For 2023 the maximum grant available is €2,000 per club. Please note that capital projects are not eligible under this grant scheme.
Who Can Apply?
Grants are available to all local sports clubs, community groups, and voluntary organisations that promote physical activity & sport. This grant is not available to schools, contact the Sports Partnership office for information on school support.
Please Note:
Only fully completed application forms will be considered. The closing date for receipt of applications is 5:00pm, Friday 8th December 2023. Applications received after this date will not be accepted.
To download a copy of the Guidelines and Application Form, please see below. Or for more information, please contact Ger via gbonner@carlowcoco.ie
Physical Activity Programme for Primary Schools 2023/24
Physical Activity Programme for Primary Schools 2023/24
Carlow Sports Partnership has teamed up with Ireland’s National Governing Bodies of Sport to bring an exciting opportunity to your school for the upcoming academic year. This collaborative effort aims to empower teachers, enrich the physical activity curriculum, and infuse new elements of fun into learning—all at significantly subsidized rates. Here’s what the program entails:
What’s on Offer
Paid Programs
Basketball Ireland: Collaborating with SETU Carlow international basketball team, this program offers a 6-week coaching block by awarded basketball players from IT Carlow. The package includes essential equipment and coaching resources at a cost of €30.00 plus €2.00 per child per session.
Badminton Ireland: With a highly skilled tutor, this program offers a coaching block after Christmas for teachers and students, complete with racquets, shuttles, and a net, all for €45.00.
Mountaineering Ireland: An adventure into Mt. Leinster’s low land areas, providing classes with essential map reading skills and safe hiking guidance for different age groups at €30.00 per program.
School Hall Fitness: This program delivers gymnastics and fun fitness sessions by expert coaches over six weeks at a cost of €2.00 per child per session.
Free Programs
Learn to Cycle: Loaning balance bicycles along with video tutorials for teachers, aiming to boost confidence in younger pupils learning to cycle.
Sports Hall Athletics: Empowering senior students to assist junior and senior infants in physical activity. Carlow Sports Partnership provides training and equipment for an Athletics Ireland-approved course for six weeks.
GAA Handball: Offering a two-hour taster course and a detailed six-week teachers’ Handball PE program, all covered with no cost to the school.
Daily Mile: A social physical activity where children run or jog at their own pace for 15 minutes, enhancing fitness and learning readiness, requiring no additional setup or equipment.
For more information on any of these programmes, you can download our brochure by clicking here or contacting Caroline via cshanahan@carlowcoco.ie or on 087 918 5466.
How to Sign Up
To enrol for any of these programs for the academic year 2023/24, contact Caroline via cshanahan@carlowcoco.ie or on 087 918 5466.
This initiative promises an enriching, diverse, and fun-filled approach to physical activity for your school, fostering both physical and mental well-being among students and teachers alike.
Federation of Irish Sport Launches the National 2023 Volunteers in Sport Awards
- Nominations open from 13th November – 18th December 2023
- Supported by the National Network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships
- To nominate volunteers visit www.volunteersinsport.ie
- #dedicatedtothededicated
November 13th , The Federation of Irish Sport announced the launch of the 2023 Volunteers in Sports Awards, a highly anticipated event set to recognise the unsung heroes who breathe life into sports in every corner of the country. Supported by the National Network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships these dedicated volunteers are the backbone of sporting communities, and it’s time to celebrate their unwavering commitment.
Nominations for the awards are now open, and you can submit your entries at the dedicated awards website, www.volunteersinsport.ie. Under the banner of #DedicatedToTheDedicated, these awards are more than just a ceremony; they are a celebration of the remarkable individuals who pour their hearts into sports in every county across Ireland.
The 2023 awards will culminate in a spectacular in-person awards ceremony, scheduled to take place on Thursday 29th February 2024. Nominations opened Monday, November 13th, and the window for entries will close on Monday December 18th, 2023. The nominations received will be meticulously shortlisted and thoughtfully considered by our Judging Panel. This prestigious event will see 32 county awards presented, and one exceptional individual will be crowned with the coveted Outstanding Volunteer Award.
Volunteers are the lifeblood of sporting activities in clubs and communities nationwide. They generously invest their time, energy, and passion, dedicating themselves to the development of their chosen sport. Over 450,000 dedicated volunteers are needed on a weekly basis to fuel club activities. Their collective efforts translate into an astonishing estimated economic value of €1.5 billion, showcasing the immeasurable impact of their contributions. Without these volunteers, the very existence of sports clubs would hang in the balance.
Attending the launch was former track star, ambassador David Gillick who mentioned,
“Volunteers are the backbone of our sport, I wouldn’t have achieved what I did in sport if it wasn’t for people volunteering. Equally, every sport at all levels needs volunteers to give teams and athletes the opportunities to realise their potential. We all know someone who gets involved week after week, simply for the love of sport and I’d encourage everyone to nominate those superstars in this years’ volunteer awards.”
Speaking at the launch Federation CEO Mary O’Connor commented;
“The Federation of Irish Sport is once again delighted to host these awards with the support of the National Network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships. The awards recognise dedicated club members and celebrate the impact they’re having not just to their sports club but to the wider community. Recognising our volunteers in sport is hugely important and acknowledging them in this way serves as an important reminder of the significant economic and social value of volunteering in Ireland. We want to ensure that volunteers in sport know their dedication doesn’t go unnoticed and inspire more volunteers in sport.”
Highlighting the significance of this awards, Head of Sport, Louth LSP, Louth County Council Graham Russell stated, “The National Network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships are, once again, proud to support the Federation of Irish Sport in hosting of these awards. The LSP’s work, on a daily basis, with volunteers from clubs and communities in every corner of the country, to support them in developing opportunities for people to engage in sport and physical activity. We are thrilled to be involved with these awards, which highlights the role that volunteers play, not just in organising sport, but in improving the physical and mental health of the country and in bringing communities together.”
Russell added that “Every elite player or athlete that has played at the top level, in an All-Ireland Final, World Cup, World Championship or in an Olympic Games will tell you that the opportunities afforded to them in the Clubs and Sports that they have excelled in, would not have existed if it were not for volunteers. No Volunteers, no Sport”
The 2023 Volunteers in Sports Awards are more than just an event; they are a tribute to the unsung heroes who make sports happen in our communities. We encourage everyone to participate in this celebration by nominating the dedicated volunteers who deserve to be recognised for their exceptional contributions.
For more information and to submit your nominations, please visit www.volunteersinsport.ie
Minister Byrne launches Winter Initiative 2023
The third year of the Winter Initiative has been launched by Minister of State for Sport and Physical Education, Thomas Byrne TD, with the aim of getting as many people as possible exercising and participating in physical activity over the coming winter months. With over 700 events and activities planned across the country there is a specific focus on encouraging people to try their hand at a new sport they may not have experienced before.
Speaking as he launched the Winter Initiative in Laytown, Co. Meath, the Minister of State for Sport and Physical Education, Thomas Byrne TD, commented: “With less daylight and harsher weather, this is a time of the year when we all need to dig a little deeper to find the motivation to exercise and to be physically active. For many of us at this time of the year, our bodies and minds do not get enough light and endorphins. Research suggests that winter exercise has many health and wellbeing benefits and The Winter Initiative is designed to provide both the motivation and the opportunity to get out get out exercising with family, friends, neighbours or work colleagues. With a large programme of events and activities planned right across the country, I urge everyone to get active over the coming months, to generate those all-important feel-good hormones which help keep the winter blues at bay”
Getting involved in sport, exercise and physical activity have huge benefits to individuals and communities and the Winter Initiative is designed to ensure that these can be felt by as many people as possible. Local clubs and groups are also encouraged to post and advertise their events and activities online to spread the word about the Winter Initiative and encourage new people to try out different sports which they may have felt were outside their comfort zone before now.
Sport Ireland CEO Una May added: “Sport Ireland welcomes the launch of the latest Winter Initiative and we would really encourage people to try to make sport and physical activity a part of their daily routine. NGBs and our network of LSPs will be hosting events all over the country and these afford everyone the opportunity to try something new or engage again with a sport that they might have drifted away from and to get healthy and get active this winter.”
A full list of all the events and activities planned all around the country that people can get involved in is available on the Sport Ireland website at https://www.sportireland.ie/winter-initiative
CYCLES
Cycling Experience for all on Sunday 24th September 2023
Carlow Arts Festival and Carlow Sports Partnership have collaborated to bring you this exciting collective cycling experience that explores language, history, landscape and cycling. You are invited to join us on your bike at the scenic Duckett’s Grove for a leisurely 18km cycle suitable for all cycling abilities.
The unique experience has been developed by artists, Michelle Browne and Eszter Némethi, with the support of community members from Rathvilly, Graiguecullen, Tullow and Hacketstown. Through a series of workshops, they have been looking back to 1923 and imagining our future in 2123.
There will be something for all on the day including an audio guide along the route, kids cycling options, choral music and a BBQ which is included on the price of your ticket.
Date & Time: Sunday 24th September. Registration from 10.30am-11.30am. Cycle leaving at 12pm and should take around 1 hour 30 minutes.
Location: Duckett’s Grove, R93 RF80
Cost including BBQ:
- Adults €5
- Children €2
Shuttle Bus available to an from the event at an additional €2 per head from Tullow, Rathvilly, Hacketstown and Graiguecullen.
Borrow a Bike – limited number of bikes are available for both adults and kids on the day.
Audio Guide for downloading before the event:
For full details about this event and to book your place please click here.
Positive Ageing Event
Positive Ageing Introduction to parkwalk
Are you aged over 55 and want to improve your health and fitness in a fun and social community setting? Being more physically active and moving more whilst getting out with others in your locality? This FREE introductory programme aims over 4 weeks to enable participants to partake in a Positive Ageing parkwalk event in Rathwood on Saturday October 7th which promises to be an enjoyable morning for all. Participants can walk, jog or run either part or all of the parkrun course.
The preparation sessions which are suitable and adaptable for all levels will give participants the base and confidence to begin their new parkwalk fitness journey.
FREE preparation sessions led by John Kenny will take place on Thursday evenings 7pm-8pm at Tullow Community School Pitches on:
- September 14th
- September 21st
- September 28th
- October 5th
Positive Ageing Parkrun event takes place in Rathwood on Saturday 7th October at 9.30am.
For more information contact Jennifer on 087-1712529 or jdempsey@carlowcoco.ie
To Reserve your space please click here.
Funded PhD Opportunity
Effective implementation of physical activity programmes for individuals with chronic conditions: an investigation of ‘ExWell’ across multiple sites.
Applications are invited for a PhD Scholarship to evaluate the implementation of ‘Exwell’ – a community-based exercise rehabilitation programme for individuals with chronic conditions. This is a co-fund scholarship where the student will be basked with the Enterprise partner: Carlow Sports Partnership.
Project summary:
The prevalence of chronic disease (CD) is rising rapidly and coupled with an aging demographic, poses a significant threat to the well-being of populations and overburdened healthcare systems. The negative impact of CD on physical, mental, and social well-being requires innovative approaches to combat decline in quality of life (QOL). The concept of "exercise as medicine" demonstrates the value of physical activity in treating CDs. ‘ExWell,’ a community-based CD rehabilitation programme in Ireland, was established to improve QOL and prevent disease progression in CD populations. The community based nature of ExWell is both a strength and a challenge for participant recruitment, preventing dropout, and scale up. Therefore, understanding the concept of "success" from the perspective of all stakeholders (participants, providers, organisers, and funders) is critical. This research will focus on addressing barriers and facilitators to implementation and identify strategies to improve outcomes such as retention, reach and sustainability. The research will engage diverse RSU V2.0- SETU PIS sheet Waterford Campus stakeholders and apply established implementation science frameworks to identify suitable implementation processes across five sites to maximise the impact of ExWell. It will also establish Social Return on investment (SROI) to determine the social and economic return of the approach.
For more information, and to learn how to apply, please click here
Safeguarding 1
Online Safeguarding 1 Training Course
This course will be run on ‘Zoom’ an interactive video conferencing platform. Participants will need a tablet/laptop & a good internet connection. The ‘Zoom’ access link for the course and relevant course materials will be emailed to participants in advance in word and PDF formats. Please check your ‘Spam’ folder as emails with links tend to be redirected to Spam.
To gain accreditation, it is required that participants complete the full course.
A must for anyone working with children!
To get your Club Certified in Safeguarding please click here.
Safeguarding 2 - Thu 20th July 2023
A must for all Club Children’s Officers
Thursday 20th July 2023
A Club Children’s Officer should be child centred in focus and have as the primary aim the establishment of a child centred ethos within the club. S/He is the link between the children and the adults in the club. S/He also takes responsibility for monitoring and reporting to the Club Management Committee on how club policy impacts on young people and Sports Leaders.
Each person attending the course will need to use their own independent device.
Safeguarding 1 course must be completed before you take part in Safeguarding 2.
For more details and to book your place please click here.
We Are Hiring
Carlow Sports Partnership are currently recruiting a Communications & Administrative Support Officer to join our team on behalf of Carlow County Council.
The primary purpose of this role is to provide high quality administrative support to the Sports Co-ordinator and current Administrator and to be responsible for Carlow Sports Partnership’s communications and marketing to increase engagement with audiences and stakeholders, to raise Carlow Sports Partnership’s profile, celebrate success, and increase awareness of programmes, education and services.
Following an examination of current roles and consideration of the additional resource suggestions made by Sport Ireland Carlow Sports Partnership have prioritised the employment of an Administrative Support & Communications Officer as an investment strategy to align the work of the Local Sports Partnership to facilitate the delivery of a wider range of actions as specified under the National Sports Policy.
Role of the Administrative Support & Communications Officer
The primary duties of the Administrative Support & Communications Officer will be to implement the terms of the existing Operational Plan of Carlow Partnership by assisting the Coordinator and Administrator in providing administration support and communication in the below areas:
Administrative Duties
- Administration, planning, organising of relevant courses, workshops, and seminars.
- Administration of and record keeping of attendance at all courses that are contracted out.
- Point of contact for the Sports Partnership Office and staff therein.
- Recording and storing information generated within the LSP.
- Collating and gathering club, school and community group contacts, uploading the same to digital platforms.
- Representing the LSP, where necessary, at meetings, functions, events.
- Supporting the delivery of LSP programmes and events.
- Processing and updating information gathered from research or courses etc.
- Any other Administrative duties as assigned from time to time by the Sports Co-Ordinator or Sports Partnership Advisory Committee.
Communication and Engagement
- Design and implement regular communications, through weekly newsletter, social media, website, email and other channels to Carlow Sports Partnership contacts for clubs, community groups, schools and other key stakeholders including Sport Ireland and national governing bodies.
- Develop new and innovative communications methods.
- Work with the programme leads to deliver multi-channel campaigns to improve engagement across all channels, including but not limited to, social media, email and website.
- Draft engaging and informative copy for Carlow Sports Partnership’s website and social media channels, liaising with colleagues to ensure coherence and prioritization of messaging.
- Upgrade the current content on the Carlow Sports Partnership website which is currently underutilized.
- Produce and manage web content, ensuring content is accurate, up-to-date and adheres to the tone of voice and brand guidelines while also being inclusive and accessible.
- Produce and enhance reports providing insight into digital performance for internal and external audiences.
- Regularly review all content and digital platforms’ performance and recommend areas for improvement and growth.
This post is full-time and is offered as a 24-month contract. To download the Job Specification Booklet and Application Form, please click the links below.
If you have any queries in relation to the post, please contact the Sports Partnership Coordinator, Deborah Foley, by emailing deborahfoley@carlowcoco.ie