Mayo Sports Partnership featured in the Sport Ireland LSP Annual Report 2020
The Mayo Sports Partnership is featured in the Sport Ireland Local Sport Parntership (LSP) Annual Report 2020, which was published today.
In Mayo, 19,574 people took part in 429 programmes, courses and events during 2020, a 50% increase on 2019 levels. Included in these figures were 11,412 women and girls and 1,282 people with a disability.
The Minister of State for the Gaeltacht and Sport, Jack Chambers, commented: “I commend the work of the LSPs and community organisations they worked with throughout a difficult year. By collaborating closely with organisations within and outside the sporting sector, the LSPs delivered a range and variety of programmes and initiatives in communities throughout Ireland.
“As we move into 2021 and beyond, the LSPs will continue to develop and deliver physical activity opportunities that are accessible and inclusive at a local level. I look forward to seeing the activities in the months and years to come as we move toward the target set out by the National Sports Policy.”
John Treacy, chief executive of Sport Ireland, added: “Last year was very difficult for the LSPs and sports participation in general. I must commend the staff and volunteers in the LSPs who adapted quickly and with agility to continue to support people to stay active during the pandemic. They embraced new ways of reaching the various groups in their community and worked together to deliver initiatives and resources at a national level.
“Although participation numbers reduced in 2020 due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, we believe that the LSP network is well prepared and primed to promote a safe return to sport, in line with government regulations. We are confident that as government restrictions are gradually lifted, LSPs will quickly return to, and even exceed, the high levels of engagement seen in 2019.”
In 2020, Mayo Sports Partnership successfully delivered programmes and initiatives through virtual and online platforms. Those initiatives included the 10K Your Way West of Ireland Women's Mini Marathon, June Walking Challenge, August Cycling Challenge, Mayo Landmark Challenge during European Week of Sport, and the hugely subscribed Run Up to Christmas initiative.
Mayo Sports Partnership head Charlie Lambert said: “In response to restrictions imposed as a result of the pandemic, we proceeded to print and distribute thousands of hard copy exercise sheets for older adults and exercise programmes for people with a disability.
“All of us in Mayo Sports Partnership would like to thank all our partners, such as family resource centres, An Garda Síochána, disability organisations and community groups, who assisted us in this process.”
Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, Sport Ireland and the LSPs continued to provide national and local initiatives to ensure that everyone in society has the opportunity to share in the enjoyment as well as the mental and physical health benefits of sport and physical activity.
The report published today shows that 340,674 people participated in 1,132 locally delivered participation initiatives in 2020 and 3,646 clubs/groups were provided with funding supports by LSPs.
In 2020, Sport Ireland allocated over €870,000 in programme funding to the LSP network, an increase of 53% from the 2019 investment. Programme funding is at the core of the LSPs' engagement with participants and allows for the delivery of a range of community, club and school based initiatives, programmes and events.
The number of people participating in LSP initiatives has grown from 52,000 people in 2007 to 340,674 people in 2020. This high level measure indicates that the LSP network’s performance is improving and developing year on year.