Empowering clubs to positively and meaningfully provide opportunities for people with disabilities
to take part in sport and physical activity.

Sport and physical activity play such an important role in peoples’ lives, contributing positively to their
physical, mental and social wellbeing.

“If I did not have my sports, then I would lead a very lonely life.” (Cara Survey Respondent)

Cara Sport Inclusion Ireland, recognise how valuable participation sport and physical activity can be
for people with disabilities, whether that be through playing, participating, volunteering, coaching,
officiating etc. there is a role for everyone in their local sports club.

“I have a wheelchair. It doesn’t mean anything other than that, I’m a grown up. I’m a woman. I’m
a mom. Allow me to define what I can do and then help me to do it.” (Colette, Cara Survey
Respondent)

Cara with the support of Sport Ireland, have developed an Xcessible Club Toolkit that will help sports
clubs across the country become more inclusive. The toolkit is a guided resource that will empower
clubs to positively and meaningfully provide opportunities for people with disabilities to take part in
sport and physical activity at a local level.

Unfortunately, people with a disability are often underrepresented in sport. Research from the Irish
Sports Monitor (2019) suggests that people with disabilities in Ireland are less likely to be involved in
Sport. Just over a third (35%) of those who have a disability in Ireland are involved socially in sport as
club members, volunteers, and /or regularly attending sports events, compared to half (50%) of those
without a disability.

Much of this difference comes through differing club membership levels between both groups. While
two-fifths (40%) of those with no disability are members of a sports club, just under a quarter (24%)
of those with a disability are club members. Given the gradients that exist for people with disabilities
within sports clubs, additional guidance and support is required for sports clubs to ensure that they
can proactively plan for the inclusion of people with disabilities within club life.

“Exercise, it’s a human thing. If you want to exercise, regardless of what your body looks like,
whether you have an impairment or not, that is your right, you should be able to do that without
these extra barriers in your way” (Sarah, Cara Survey Respondent)

The Xcessible Club Toolkit aims to support sports clubs to facilitate the many benefits that people with
disabilities can enjoy within their community such as; belonging to a group, the opportunity to
volunteer, to make new friends, to learn a new skill, to develop leadership & coaching expertise as
well as improving social, physical and mental wellbeing.

Through the implementation of the Xcessible Club Toolkit, Cara Sport Inclusion Ireland aims to support
clubs to ensure that they feel empowered to proactively plan and build capacity within their club. This
will ensure that more people with disabilities are actively involved in sport and physical activities at
club level in their local area and in multiple roles.

Highlighting the importance of this resource Minister Jack Chambers commented: ‘It is so important
that people with disabilities have the opportunity to take part in sport and physical activity and enjoy
the many benefits associated; physically, mentally and socially. I am delighted to see that Cara Sport
Inclusion Ireland have developed this toolkit. So many sports clubs across the country will benefit
greatly from the toolkit which will guide and empower them to become more inclusive of people with
disabilities. This toolkit will support any clubs that have applied for the Sport for All funding in guiding
them through a staged approach to becoming more inclusive. The toolkit is available now for clubs to
download now so I would encourage all sports clubs to get involved and be inclusive.’

Speaking at the launch Una May, CEO of Sport Ireland stated: ‘Sport and physical activity play such
an important role in peoples’ lives, I am excited to see a guided resource available to the sector to
support sports clubs in becoming more inclusive. There is a role for everyone in their local sports club
and this toolkit will empower clubs to positively and meaningfully provide opportunities for people with
disabilities to take part in sport and physical activity at a local level. The toolkit is supported by Sport
Ireland and is available to download now on the Cara website now.’

CEO of Cara Sport Inclusion Ireland, Niamh Daffy added: ‘We are delighted to build on the success of
the Xcessible programme for National Governing Bodies of Sport and Local Sports Partnerships in
launching a new Xcessible toolkit to support local clubs as they increase their sports offerings for people
with disabilities. This toolkit is built on the living experience as shared by people with disabilities and
simply asks all clubs to consider five key principles to providing greater awareness, access and
opportunities within their sports at local level. Through this initiative we are delighted to continue to
work with Sport Ireland in supporting the Sport for All government agenda across Ireland.’

The toolkit and supporting resources are available at www.caracentre.ie
Download the toolkit now and see how simple it is for your club to become more inclusive.

For more updates follow Caracentre on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
Pictured at the launch: Heather Jameson (FAI), Eimear Hubble (Cara), Minister Jack Chambers, Sarah
Keane (CEO Swim Ireland), Niamh Daffy (CEO Cara), Chris McElligott (FAI), Stephanie Mac Sweeney
(Cara), Fiach Andrews (Kildare Sports Partnership) and Brenda O’Donnell (Cara).

For More Information:
Xcessible Club Toolkit Lead
Stephanie Mac Sweeney – National Sport Inclusion Coordinator
smacsweeney@caracentre.ie

 

 

South Dublin County Council wants YOU TO HAVE YOUR SAY! 📢

South Dublin County Council aims to bring together partners across the community, voluntary and statutory sectors with residents, clubs, schools, leisure facility providers, and others to develop a locally-led approach to improving participation in physical activity, recreation, and sport to help guide the development of our ‘County’s Sports and Activity Plan.

The aim of developing our County’s Sports and Activity Plan, is to bring together partners across the community, voluntary and statutory sectors with residents, clubs, schools, leisure facility providers, and others to develop a locally led approach to improving participation in physical activity, recreation, and sport

In order to find better ways for us to work together, both internally and with our partners, we are seeking the views of stakeholders across South Dublin to contribute to this consultation process.

Please take a few minutes to complete our surveys below.

Click HERE for our Residents Survey.

Or to register for our Consultation Workshops click HERE 

• Community Workshop for community and voluntary organisations, residents associations, & health and wellbeing organisations (10am December 5th)
• NGB Workshop for local NGB staff (11am Dec 6th)
• Schools/Colleges Workshop for PE teachers, principals, Education and Training Boards, colleges, & school principals (4pm Dec 6th)
• Club Development Workshop for local sports clubs (1pm Dec 7th)
• Social Inclusion Workshop for organisations that support underrepresented groups (10am Dec 8th)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sport Ireland Media Release 7^th November 2022

 

€3.4million Invested in Active Cities For An Active Future

• Five Active Cities to be rolled out in Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Waterford
• Aim is to provide increased opportunities for city residents to be active in their communities.
• Creating change for those who are economically, socially or educationally disadvantaged or those who have a disability.

A major, new national campaign has been launched to get as many people exercising and participating in physical activity as possible in our biggest urban cities. The Sport Ireland ‘Active Cities’ project calls on everyone across Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, and Waterford to come together to create more opportunities for participation in sport and physical activity through collaboration, partnership, and planning.

Sport Ireland officially unveils Active Cities, a project based on the World Health Organisation’s Global Action Plan on Physical Activity (GAPPA) Framework, which focuses on increasing physical activity amongst those who are least active in society.

Active Cities prioritises physical activity and sport for all and is underpinned by four key pillars – Active Systems, Active Environments, Active Societies, and Active People.

To date €3.4m has been invested to engage with communities across the five cities, creating change for those who are economically, socially or educationally disadvantaged or those who have a disability.

With ambitious aims for Irish cities to be among the most physically active and healthy places in the world, it is vital that a multi-sectoral approach is taken to delivering the project.

When it comes to being physically active, only 42% of adults and only 13% of children met the recommended national guidelines as per the 2021 Irish Sports Monitor. With over 33% of the population living across the 5 cities, physical inactivity is negatively impacting the health, economy, environment, and community of our cities.

Active Cities is about creating opportunities so that all citizens can lead healthier lifestyles in the context of sport and physical activity. The vision of Active Cities is to engage, increase and maintain the number of citizens regardless of age or ability participating in sport and physical activity in their city. Collaborative and partnership-based by nature, Active Cities is being led locally by the eight (8) LSPs across Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Waterford.

It is not just the responsibility of people working in sport and physical activity to address this. Active Cities is about all stakeholders, who directly and indirectly impact on physical activity, collectively driving change through collaboration, partnership, and planning.

Highlighting the importance of raising awareness Sport Ireland CEO, Dr Una May added: “Sport Ireland are proud to support a wonderful initiative such as Active Cities. Communication and promotion will be central to the success and impact of Active Cities. Research has highlighted the importance of identifying and connecting with trusted local community leaders, willing to promote opportunities within their locality. This initiative will provide a fantastic opportunity for Active Cities to generate a sense of community and togetherness, while bringing sport and physical activity to people’s lives”.

A recent “Active Cities Marketing Communications Research Report”, identified preferences on engaging individuals from targeted groups (i.e., from socially, economically, or educationally disadvantaged areas or people with disabilities) to establish their preferences around the promotion of physical activity.

Speaking at the launch Partnerships Manager, Oisin Foley commented:

“Active Cities is about creating opportunities and increasing the number of active spaces throughout cities across Ireland. We want physical activity to become a social norm, naturally and habitually built into people’s home, work and community lives. I would like to encourage as many people to get involved with your local Active City and take part in the wonderful events being rolled out through the initiative”

So many stakeholders have a pivotal role to play in the success of Active Cities and in prioritising  physical activity for ALL which is reflected in the four guiding pillars; Active Systems, Active Environments, Active Societies and Active People.  With all five cities aligned nationally to impact positive change, the pillars also give each city the individual pathway for implementation at a local level through local partnership and collaboration.

Active Cities is about creating an environment where city residents can be more active, with more choice, more opportunity and lead healthier lives in the context of sport and physical activity. Be part of the #ActiveCities movement. You can find tips on how to get active through your Local Sports Partnership website, check out SportIreland.ie or ask your doctor/ physician/ OT for information on how best to get active.

Be part of the Active Cities conversation using the hashtag #ActiveCities and tagging @sportireland, your Local Sports Partnership and any stakeholder you see as having the potential to influence and impact physical activity opportunities.

(*ISM Mid-year 2021)

ENDS.

 

Notes to the Editor:

 

Active Cities Pillars

Active Systems

• Increased input from physical activity stakeholders into plans and policies.
• Greater collaboration and cohesion across departments and organisations.
• Greater access to and use of data on physical activity and sedentary behaviour.

Active Environments

• Improved access to spaces and facilities for ALL.
• Policy and design guidelines strengthened so new and existing infrastructure is physical activity friendly.

Active Societies

• Improved and more targeted campaigns.
• More effective marketing and branding.
• More accessible mass participation events.

Active People

• Improved provision of and opportunities for, physical activity in natural environments, workplaces, schools and communities.​
• Increased choice and opportunities for people of all ages and abilities.

 

For more Information:

Active Cities enquiries

Mary Corry / National Active Cities Officer
mcorry@limericksports.ie / 0879470094

 

LSP	Title	Name	Email	Mobile
Limerick	Active Cities Officer (Limerick Sports Partnership)	Pat Quigley	pquigley@limericksports.ie	087 9511302
Galway	Programme Manager (Galway Sports Partnership)	Jason Craughwell (Active Cities contact for Galway)	jason.craughwell@galwaycity.ie	087 9817549
Cork	Sport & Marketing Manager (Cork Sports Partnership)	Maurice O’Sullivan (Active Cities Lead in Cork)	mosullivan@corksports.ie	086 0262288
Waterford	Active Cities Officer (Waterford Sports Partnership)	Elaine Mullan	emullan@waterfordsportspartnership.ie	087 1178578
Dublin City	Active Cities Officer (Dublin City Sport & Wellbeing Partnership)	Carmel O’Callaghan	carmel.ocallaghan@dublincity.ie	087 2658577
DLR	Active Cities Officer (Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Sports Partnership)	Angela Monaghan	amonaghan@dlrcoco.ie	087 4668219
South Dublin	Active Cities Officer (South Dublin County Sports Partnership)	Darragh Conway	dconway@SDUBLINCOCO.ie	086 1362577
Fingal	Principal Sports Officer (Fingal County Council)	Gerry Reardon (Active Cities contact for Fingal)	gerard.reardon@fingal.ie	087 4302988

 

For media enquiries:

Ciara Lucey / clucey@titanexperience.ie  / 0861763071

Sarah Stanley / sstanley@sportireland.ie / 0871454455

 

Website: https://www.sportireland.ie/activecities

Video: https://vimeo.com/747669931

 

Image Caption:

Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr. Caroline Conroy, Mayor of South Dublin County, Cllr. Emma Murphy and Mayor of Galway, Cllr. Clodagh Higgins were joined by Sport Ireland CEO Dr Una May, Louise Burke, Director of Participation and Oisin Foley, Partnerships Manager and members of the Local Sports Partnerships for the launch of Active Cities.