DERRY City and Strabane District Council’s delivery of Sport Northern Ireland’s Every Body Active 2020 Active Awards programme has received a welcome boost with news that they are to receive additional funding to support projects in the scheme for people with a disability.
The EBA 2020 programme was launched last year to reach out to sections of the community who wouldn’t traditionally take part in physical activity in a bid to get them ‘more active more often’.
It specifically targets women and girls, people with a disability, those living in areas of greatest social need, young people leaving education and those retiring from work to offer them a range of activities at a time and place that suits their schedule.
The latest strand of investment for the programme is funded by the Department for Communities through Sport NI and supports EBA 2020 Active Awards, a small grants scheme where organisations can apply for financial support to deliver activities in the community to the target demographics.
Council’s original allocation from Sport NI for the grants scheme was just over £85k. An additional £17k has also been announced in support of the Active Living: No Limits 2016-21 Action Plan, and this will be invested in projects which help people with disabilities to lead active and healthy lifestyles through sport and physical activity.
This brings the total amount available under the Council’s Every Body Active 2020 Active Awards programme to over £100k.
Sport Development Manager at Derry City and Strabane District Council, Aiden Lynch, expressed his delight at the additional funding for Strand Four of the programme.
“The funding strand of the EBA programme is a key in allowing us to reach out to the community on the ground in our bid to get as many people as possible more active more often,” he said.
“The additional award of £17k will allow us to increase the opportunities on the ground for people with disabilities to participate in sport and physical activity which is a key element of the programme.”
Sport Northern Ireland Chair George Lucas added that he looked forward to seeing the impact of the latest strand of funding on the ground.
“Sport Northern Ireland is pleased to continue our work with Derry City and Strabane District Council to help communities get more active more often through the Every Body Active 2020 Programme,” he said.
“Our total £693k investment through the Small Grants strand of the EBA 2020 Programme will support the eleven local councils across Northern Ireland to deliver their local community plans and help people enjoy the physical, mental and social benefits of participation in sport and physical activity.
“We look forward to seeing the impact of this work in encouraging everyone, and particularly women and girls, people with a disability and those in areas of greatest social need, to enjoy, engage and excel in sport.”
Detailed information for clubs or organisations interested in applying for EBA 2020 Active Awards 2017/18 is available at www.dcsdgrantaid.com.
The deadline for applications is next Friday September 29th 2017.
Strand Four of the Every Body Active 2020 Programme is funded by the Exchequer through the Department for Communities.
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