Community sports hub proposal for Mayo town
Sport Ireland are seeking innovative applications for Dormant Accounts Funding to support actions from the National Sports Policy and the National Physical Activity Plan to implement and support participation programmes with a focus on disadvantaged communities.
Following the success of the Ballina Urban Adventure Initiative, Mayo Sports Partnership are aiming to successfully apply and secure funding for a community sports and physical activity hub in Ballina.
If successful, this funding will be for a five-year period and will help to make sports organisations stronger, build capacity in clubs, improve small scale infrastructure and of course increase participation opportunities for all.
As part of this process, Mayo Sports Partnership are seeking input from sporting and community organisations in Ballina area.
The vision of a hub is to increase the number of people of all ages participating in sport and physical activity in their communities.
The mission of a community sports and physical activity hub in disadvantaged areas is to bring local people together and provide a home for local clubs and sports organisations. This home can be area- or facility-based; in Ballina's case it is proposed that it will be area-based.
The Mayo Sports Partnership committee chairman, Councillor Michael Loftus, has asked people to consider the opportunities that are available to be active in Ballina and how they might be enhanced so that more people will get and remain physically active and stay healthy.
“When considering local facilities and amenities, please think not only of sports clubs and community facilities but also of natural amenities, accessibility, awareness, etc. Get involved and tell us what you think. Be creative and make your voice heard.”
Elaborating at the November monthly meeting of Ballina Municipal District on Wednesday last, held in the Enniscoe Estate, Crossmolina, Councillor Loftus said the Ballina Adventure Hub Initiative had proven very successful and the community sports hub would be a step up from that.
“It is quite important that people go on to the Mayo Sports Partnership website and make their views known. We are asking all clubs and organisations in the north Mayo area to come back to us with ideas for it.”
To fill out the needs analysis questionnaire, log on to https://forms.gle/6Sg8wvbvNZRHaHxE7. The questionnaire must be completed by Friday, November 26. Anyone with queries can email mayosportspartnership@mayococo.ie.