Donegal Sports Partnership is gearing up to play its part in the delivery of the government’s Annual Winter Initiative for Sport and Physical Activity.
The initiative will be delivered across the country over November, December and January with the support of the Local Sports Partnership Network and the National Governing Bodies of Sport.
The primary focus of the initiative is to contribute to the public health agenda, post pandemic; provide attractive opportunities for the public to engage and re-engage in sport and physical activity in communities across the country; increase the visibility of NGBs, LSPs and their affiliated clubs and community groups and contribute to the ongoing recovery and growth of membership/participant numbers in NGB/LSP programmes, affiliated clubs and grassroots sport.
“We will be drawing up a list of sport and physical activities for the next three months to engage our local communities in Co Donegal and encouraging people to get active and stay active during the winter months,” commented Donegal Sports Partnership Coordinator, Myles Sweeney.
“Examples of such activities will be the ‘Move to the Beat’ which has been a great success to date and has inspired people to get active. The ‘MenoWell Donegal’ programme which begins on Wednesday, November 1st is a collaboration with EduFit and Dr Diane Cooper and will also form part of the participation programme for the Winter Initiative in Donegal,” Mr Sweeney added.
“‘Men on the Move’ programmes in different parts of the county will also commence with recruitment ongoing and the Active Seniors programmes will also be included in the schedule. Ultimately, it’s about getting people out and active in the communities. The winter months can be a difficult period for people and sometimes a time when people find it hard to get motivated – Christmas and the New Year bring their own pressures.
“Our role with the Winter Initiative is to make people aware of what they can do to stay active and healthy,” he said.
“We are also encouraging people to link up with the local clubs in their own areas as many clubs and community organisations offer recreational activities which can be good fun and support social contact, people could invite a friend to go for a walk, a run or a cycle, or take the children for a walk to the nearest beach or forest.
“The aim is to help people get through the winter months as best they can. The GAA, soccer and rugby clubs will be doing their bit to help the Annual Winter Initiative and we will be encouraging local clubs to get involved as well as much as they can,” the DSP Coordinator added.
Further information on the Winter Initiative can be accessed through the DSP website and social media outlets www.activedonegal.com or through Sport Ireland www.sportireland.ie
