Mayo Communities get more Active in 2013

Initiatives such as Operation Transformation, Mayo in Motion Walking and Cycling Month, Fit Walk, Fit4Life / Meet and Train, parkrun, Bike Week, Men on the Move, inclusive sports programmes etc are leading to a big increase in physical activity levels across the county.

Launching the 2013 Annual Report of the Mayo Sports Partnership outgoing Chairman Cllr Henry Kenny paid tribute to all the community leaders / activists who give of their free time to organise programmes in their local areas. The report, describing the workings of the Sports Partnership during 2013, highlights that 46% of the population now participate in sport / physical activity at least once a week. A really significant rise from just over 34% in 2008.

To download a copy of the report please click here www.mayosports.ie/media/Media,25214,en.pdf

Other highlights from the report shows that Mayo Sports Partnership and its stakeholders provided physical activity opportunities for some 8,200 people through 61 locally delivered sports programmes, 4,500 women through 9 Women in Sport initiatives and 400 people with a disability in the Sports Inclusion Disability Programme. In addition the sports umbrella body supplied information to 560 clubs / organisations throughout the county with some 8,000  people contacting the Partnership for general and sports specific information. 

Again as in previous years, the Partnership has made significant advances by increasing the number of locally delivered programmes and training opportunities for leaders / volunteers. The expansion of the Men on the Move Initiative to 9 areas across the county has been an outstanding success contributing to physical and mental health of this hard to reach group. The development of the Westport Get Out There Activity Plan with initiatives such as parkrun and the Activity Ambassador programme has also had a significant impact on peoples activity levels locally while also giving visitors a more positive experience of the area. In addition the Goal to Work Sports Coach training programme for unemployed was rolled out in the Erris area and was also a recipient of a national award in adult learning under the Aontas awards scheme.

Cllr Henry Kenny-Chairman of Mayo Sports Partnership thanked key stakeholders the Irish Sports Council  and Mayo County Council along with the many other partners who contribute to the success of the umbrella sports body.

" Much credit must go to the Sports Partnership staff for continually delivering high quality participation programmes and working with local agencies and all sections of society." Cllr Kenny added.

The Sports Partnership can be contacted at 094-9047025 or e-mail msp@mayococo.ie. You can also log on to its website and download the full report atwww.mayosports.ie/news