DERRY City and Strabane District Council have launched an ambitious new initiative 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’.
Sport Northern Ireland’s ‘EveryBody Active 2020’ initiative will specifically target women and girls, people with 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.
Council have assembled a team of qualified EveryBody Active coaches who can deliver a range of sports and activities to groups and individuals in locations including schools, community centres, local clubs and leisure centres.
They are also offering a series of clubs and classes in their leisure centres including group exercise classes, teenage fitness programmes, outdoor cycling, pool based classes and school holiday activities.
Over the next four years each of the 11 council areas in Northern Ireland will receive over £6 million of National Lottery funding in support of the project which was officially launched locally this week at the Foyle Arena.
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Alderman Hilary McClintock, expressed her hope that the new initiative will help promote healthy choices amongst a wider cross section of the community.
“This is a particularly important initiative because it aims to accommodate sections of the public whose circumstances mean they may be less likely to get involved in physical activity,” said Alderman McClintock.
“By making sport and exercise more accessible and integrating physical activity into more people’s daily lives we hope it will encourage the public to make stronger lifestyle choices and reap the knock on health and wellbeing benefits.
“The range of activities on offer are extensive so there really is something for all abilities and fitness levels and I’d encourage as many organisations, clubs, schools and individuals to get involved by signing up for an activity or applying for a coach to deliver a course to them.
“I would like to thank the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Jim McKeever for attending the launch of this important initiative.”
Sport Development Manager at Derry City and Strabane District Council Ryan Porter expressed his hope that the initiative would help guide the participants onto a lifelong pathway of physical activity.
“Through EBA 2020 participants will have the opportunity to exercise either in a sports club environment or within a more informal structure in the community and park facilities across the Derry City and Strabane District,” he explained.
“Alongside the activities provided in Council’s leisure facilities, we will offer a wide range of quality opportunities to engage people and set them on pathways that will lead to lifelong participation in physical activity.”
Coaches can go on site to schools, sports clubs and community groups to deliver six week blocked courses with the first running from November 1st until December 12th 2016.
Detailed information of clubs and classes and application forms for coaches to deliver courses is available from Ryan Porter on 028 71 253253 [email protected].
More information on Council’s Leisure and Sport Services are available at www.derrystrabane.com/leisure.
Tags: