IRISH SPORTS COUNCIL

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IRISH SPORTS COUNCIL

• CUSAI Network Event, Friday June 12 2009

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Good Practice in Developing Participation

• Participation Research Findings
• Participation in 3rd Level
• How do you increase participation?
• Learnings
• Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs)
• LSPs
• Examples of Good Practice in LSPs
• Elements of a good participation programme

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3rd Level Participation Research Findings

• Less educated, female, older and lower income
  groups have lower participation rates
• Education attainment is the single biggest factor
  in determining whether an individual plays sport
• Educational attainment to third-level is one of
  the strongest determinants of taking up new
  sports during adulthood

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Playing sport and being sedentary by educational
attainment
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How do you increase participation?

• Community campaigns that mix organised events and
  strong local marketing
• Involving pre-existing social groups in sport
• Combining facilities improvements with outreach
  activities
• Individual physical activity programmes
• Major national marketing campaigns
• Research suggest LSPs are the right kind of
  vehicle

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• What is a Local Sports Partnership (LSP)?

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What is a Local Sports Partnership?

• An initiative of the ISC to create a national
  structure to coordinate and promote the
  development of sport at a local level
• National network of 33 LSPs
• The key aims of the LSPs are to
• increase local participation in sport, recreation
  and physical activity
• ensure that local resources are used to best
  effect
• establish sustainable structures to assist all
  those involved in local sports development,
  helping them to face the associated challenges

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Anticipated Outcomes from LSPs

• Increased levels of local participation amongst
  target groups
• Enhanced planning of sport at local level
• Club development, volunteer training
• Local directories of sports bodies and facilities
• Better use of existing facilities
• Local sports events
• School/club/community and NGB links

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How are these outcomes achieved?

• Local Delivery of Irish Sports Council national
  programmes.
• Buntús, Go For life, Active Leadership, Code of
  Ethics, Women in Sport.
• Delivery of area-specific programmes
• specific to local needs, including events e.g.
  Girls Active, Meet and Train
• Education role
• Volunteer training e.g. First Aid, Volunteer
  management

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LSP Structure

• Local Sports Co-ordinator supported by admin
  staff
• Local authority boundaries
• ISC strategic and policy direction of the
  Partnerships
• Allow operational independence
• Board manages the Partnership

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LSPs with 3rd Level Representation on their Boards

• Carlow
• Cavan
• Cork City
• Cork County
• Donegal
• Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown
• Fingal
• Galway City
• Galway County
• Kerry
• Limerick City
• Limerick County
• Mayo
• North Tipp
• Sligo
• South Tipp
• South County Dublin
• Waterford

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Good Practice Examples

• Sports Inclusion Disability Officers (SIDO)
  across LSP network
• Meet and Train programme in Clare
• Girls Active in Sligo Donegal

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Good Practice 1 - SIDOs

• 20 SIDOs across LSP network
• Increase opportunities for people with
  disabilities to participate
• Co-ordinated by CARA Adapted Physical Activity
  Centre, IT Tralee
• Link with local Disability Organisations
• Established Disability Sports Forums
• Created new clubs and sessions
• Link with Disability NGBs
• Provide Training and Education courses/workshops

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Good Practice 2 - Meet and Train (Clare LSP)

• Aim To increase number of women walking and
  running in a non-competitive environment
• 8 week blocks in Ennis, Kilrush, Shannon
• 3 Groups in each town
• Walking only
• Walking and Jogging
• Jogging and Running
• Early sessions are free, then participants pay
  nominal fee

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Good Practice 3 Girls Active

• Limited choice of extra curricular activities
  offered to teenage girls
• Girls would prefer to participate in girls only
  activities
• Lack of non-competitive activities
• Some girls felt that sport and PA is not as
  valued for girls as it is for boys

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Good Practice Girls Active

• Aim To increase the number of teenage girls
  involved in long-term regular physical activity
• Programme involves
• Extra Curricular physical activities for teenage
  girls which are
• Recreational and Non Competitive
• Girls only
• Activities selected by the Girls
• Activities organised by the Girls
• At least 3 different activities throughout the
  year
• Links with the Social and Personal Health
  Education Programme

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Good Practice - Girls Active

• Developed from a consultation with girls
• Involves the girls in choosing and organising
  their own activities
• Links with activities available in the community
• Caters for more diverse needs than traditional
  extra curricular sports
• Supportive Environment
• Accessible appropriate activities
• Evaluation PA levels higher after than they
  were before Girls Active

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What makes a good programme?

• Clarity about your target group
• Consultation
• Innovation
• Partner support
• Build Capacity
• Strong emphasis on Programme Evaluation
• Value for Money
• Exit strategy built in to Programme design
• Sustainability

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Summary

• Education attainment is the single biggest factor
  in determining whether an individual plays sport
• 33 LSPs across the country
• increase local participation in sport and ensure
  that local resources are used to best effect
• 20 SIDOs
• Examples of Good Practice

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Further Details

• For further details on Local Sports Partnerships
• Colm McGinty,
• LSP Programme Executive,
• Irish Sports Council,
• Westend Office Park,
• Blanchardstown, Dublin 15
• Telephone [phone] or
• Email cmcginty_at_irishsportscouncil.ie