Over 100 clubs and organisations receive Return to Sport funding from Mayo Sports Partnership
At a recent Mayo Sports Partnership committee meeting, €79,600 was allocated to 101 clubs and community organisations in Mayo through the partnership's 2023 Return to Sport Small grant scheme supported by Sport Ireland and the Dormant Account Board.
This significant support is possible through phase four Covid-19 government support funding combined with annual Special Participation Grant and Dormant Account Volunteer Support funding.
To be eligible for support, all applicants needed to be a community or voluntary club/group. A full listing of those in receipt of funding can be found by logging on to the Mayo Sports Partnerships website.
Announcing the allocations, the chairman of Mayo Sports Partnership, Councillor Michael Loftus, recognised that coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic, many clubs need to be supported in the delivery of their operations.
“Sports clubs continue to face many challenges, including cost of living increases. We hope through this scheme Mayo Sports Partnership can help clubs in whatever small way we can,” he stated.
“On behalf of Mayo Sports Partnership, I would like to thank Sport Ireland for providing the funding for this initiative and also to Mayo County Council for all their support,” Councillor Loftus added.
Along with Covid-19 support, some of the initiatives submitted for assistance include Ukrainian integration sports programmes, Football for All initiatives in GAA, soccer and rugby, handball initiatives in Belcarra and Tourmakeady, swimming programmes in Ballyhaunis, Charlestown and Kilcummin, Gaelic 4 Mothers & Others LGFA in Burrishoole and Islandeady, support for Mayo Autism Camp along with volunteer coach education training assistance for sports such as athletics, camogie and tennis.
“We had the highest amount of applications ever this year and the wide breadth of sport available in the county is reflected in those groups who were supported. I would like to thank the sports partnership assessment committee who spent an untold amount of time going through all applications,” commented Mayo Sports Partnership head Charlie Lambert.
The Mayo Sports Partnership committee comprises of representatives from local agencies, sports organisations and community representatives, is core funded by Sport Ireland, and is hosted locally by Mayo County Council.