Grants announced for active groups

A TOTAL of 30 West Cork groups in Cork are celebrating the awarding of grants to fund physical activity for people aged over 50. 

The Go for Life grant scheme from Age & Opportunity and Sport Ireland is awarding over €31,000 to 117 groups around Cork. These grants are aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of older people across the country by providing them with opportunities to engage in physical activity and sport.  

Grant recipients include active retirement groups, ICA guilds, local sports partnerships, sports clubs, family resource centres and many others who provide older people with opportunities to get active.

The West Cork groups honoured comprise Castlehaven/Union Hall ARA, RehabCare Day Resource Centre Bantry, Innishannon ICA, Kilmeen/Castleventry ARA, Drimoleague ARA, Caheragh ICA, Skibbereen Active & Social Club ARA, Muintir Bhaire Community Council, Kilcrohane Gentle Exercise Group, Clonakilty ICA, Gaggin ICA, Glengarriff ICA, Dunderrow ICA, Drimoleague ICA, Newcestown Friendship Group ARA, Clonakilty, Ballinascarthy Community Social Club For Older People, Ballymartle ICA, Castletownbere ARA, Ballydehob Céilí Club, Bantry ICA, Dunmanway ICA, Aughadown ICA, Ballinspittle ICA, Drinagh ARA, Kilmeen ICA, Bantry ARA, Dunmanway ARA, Ballydehob ICA, Skibbereen Luncheon Club, 

Announcing the successful grantees at the Desmond Complex, Newcastle West, Co. Limerick, Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD, believed that the figures speak for themselves and looked forward to further improvement.

‘The National Physical Activity Plan, launched earlier this year, sets an ambitious target to get half a million people more active within ten years,’ he said.  

‘Programmes like Go for Life and the national grant scheme will help us reach this target by supporting and empowering older people to get active. 

‘The fact that approximately 30,000 people will take part in the activities funded by the grants shows what results can be achieved with a small investment and the record number of applications shows the continued importance of the scheme for local groups throughout the country.’

Those views were echoed by Karen Smyth, CEO of Age & Opportunity, who outlined the importance of providing opportunities for older people to engage in sport and physical activity. 

‘Research shows us that physical activity improves mental and physical wellbeing as well as providing opportunities for social networking,’ she said.