Link2BActive Initiative Promotes Participation Among Jobseekers

On Monday 11th October, Minister of State for Labour Affairs Dara Calleary T.D., together with the Mayor of Ballina Cllr Frances Mc Andrew and the Chairman of the Mayo Sports Partnership Henry Kenny launched Link2BActive, a new initiative from the Mayo Sports Partnership that seeks to promote participation among jobseekers in local sporting facilities in the county.

Mayo Sports Partnership launch of the Link2B Active initiative in Ballina Sports & Leisure Centre, Mayo Sports Partnership Board members pictured with Minister of State for Labour Affairs Dara Calleary TD, & Mayor of Ballina Councillor Frances McAndrew L-r; Gerry McGuinness, Thelma Birrane, HSE, Minister of State for Labour Affairs Dara Calleary TD, Mayor of Ballina Councillor Frances McAndrew, Henry Kenny Chairman, Charlie Lambert, Coordinator, and Teresa Ward. Photo © Ken Wright Photography 2010.

In the last 20 months unemployment levels in Mayo has risen quite dramatically to approximately 13,000. Being unemployed can be a very frustrating experience, is a time of great financial stress and it can drain people of their energy and affect their physical and mental health.

The importance of physical activity for our wellbeing is well known but often the cost of access to physical recreation means that is no longer as freely available, just when it's probably most needed. Mayo Sports Partnership, which was set up in 2004 through funding support from the Irish Sports Council to promote increased participation in sport and physical activity in the community, has decided to try and tackle this problem in a unique way which is being replicated in a number of other counties.

Mayo Sports Partnership launch of the Link2B Active initiative in Ballina Sports & Leisure Centre, a group of representatives from Mayo Sports Partnership. L-r; Charlie Lambert, Coordinator, Gerry McGuinness, Henry Kenny Chairman, Thelma Birrane, HSE, Teresa Ward and Anne Ronayne. Photo © Ken Wright Photography 2010.

With Link2BActive, Mayo Sports Partnership is looking to link in job seekers with the local facilities such as gyms, leisure centres, all weather pitches, golf clubs and other facilities where, coincidently, pressure is also on from people dropping off due to economic constraints.

It has asked local sports providers to come up with an offer, complete with terms and conditions, for the use of their facilities by jobseekers. Mayo Sports Partnership has developed a page on its website www.mayosports.ie with all the links to these facility offers.

Mayo Sports Partnership launch of the Link2B Active initiative in Ballina Sports & Leisure Centre, a group of representatives from participating venues. Front l-r; Michael Lyons, Castlebar Tennis Club, Philip Power Barnacarroll Community Sports Centre, Dorothy Costello, Foxford Sports & Leisure Centre, Rene Janssen, Barnacarroll Community Sports Centre. Back l-r; Brendan Doyle, Ballina Community Sports Centre, Dermot Langan, Westport Leisure Park, Minister of State for Labour Affairs Dara Calleary TD, Mayor of Ballina Councillor Frances McAndrew, Chairman Mayo Sports Partnership Henry Kenny, Charlie Lambert, Coordinator Mayo Sports Partnership, Gabrielle McHale, Killalla Community Centre & Sports Complex, Fallon McShea, McWilliam Park Hotel Claremorris. Photo © Ken Wright Photography 2010.

The Partnership has now printed 5,000 promotional flyers with this information about the programme aims and the website details which will be distributed through social welfare offices, general practitioners'services, community centres, libraries and more in the county to inform jobseekers about the programme.

Mayo Sports Partnership and the Mayo County Development Board has covered the cost of the promotional materials and the development of the programme, so for the facilities there is only a possible opportunity cost of having to offer a lower rate to users who are unemployed. The onus on management for visitor usage falls on the facilities themselves.

Mayo Sports Partnership launch of the Link2B Active initiative in Ballina Sports & Leisure Centre, l-r; Minister of State for Labour Affairs Dara Calleary TD, Mayor of Ballina Councillor Frances McAndrew, & Chairman Mayo Sports Partnership Henry Kenny. Photo © Ken Wright Photography 2010.

"We see this as a very sustainable programme with limited costs that hopefully will grow and grow in the coming months" says Mr Charlie Lambert Sports coordinator of the Mayo Sports Partnership.

For more details on the Link2BActive programme please contact:
Mayo Sports Partnership
c/o Mayo County Council,
Castlebar
Co Mayo

Tel: 094-9047025
E-mail: msp@mayococo.ie