Grants for Physical Activity and Sport
The Irish Sports Council and Age & Opportunity are delighted to announce the 7th round of the Go for Life National Grant Scheme for Sport and Physical Activity for Older People. Since 2001 over three thousand grants totalling €1.93 million have been distributed to local clubs and organisations and this money has been used by older people to purchase equipment and to take part in activity programmes. This year €350,000 will be made available to local groups to enable their older members to become more involved in sport and physical activity.
Go for Life is the national programme for sport and physical activity for older people and is an Age & Opportunity initiative funded by the Irish Sports Council.
“The relationship between sports participation and good health strengthens as people age. In other words, the older you are, the more you have to gain health-wise from increasing the amount of even light physical activity you engage in. These facts emerge in research commissioned by the Irish Sports Council and they highlight the importance of enabling more older people to become more active through the Go for Life programme.”
John Treacy, CEO, Irish Sports Council,
(speaking at the allocation of grants on 5 December 2006)
Any local group seeking to provide increased opportunities for older people to participate in sport and physical activity may apply for a grant. Grants range from €500 - €3,000 and are typically used by groups to purchase equipment or so that members may explore a new sporting activity. Last year almost 600 groups nationwide shared in excess of €300,000 under the sixth phase of the scheme. Successful applicants included active retirement associations, senior citizens clubs, ICA guilds, sports clubs, day centres and community centres in 26 counties.
Application Forms are now available from Go for Life c/o Age & Opportunity Marino Institute of Education, Griffith Avenue, Dublin 9. Tel: 01 805 7733 or email
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Details and Application Forms are also available from Age & Opportunity at
www.olderinireland.ie and from the Irish Sports Council www.irishsportscouncil.ie . Closing date for receipt of applications is 5.00pm on Thursday 18 October, 2007.
Note for Editors: Go for Life is the National Programme for Sport and Physical Activity for Older People. The programme aims to get more older people more active more often. Go for Life aims to challenge stereotypical notions about sedentary lifestyles for older people.
Some Physical Activity Facts:
The benefits of physical activity can be enjoyed even if regular practice starts late in life.
For people of all ages, physical activity improves quality of life in many ways:
• it can help relieve the disability and pain associated with common diseases (like cardiovascular disease, arthritis, osteoporosis, and hypertension.)
• it can also contribute greatly to the management of some mental disorders such as depression.
• it improves self-confidence and self-sufficiency-qualities that are the foundation of psychological well-being.
World Health Organization, Extract from Factsheet: Physical Activity and older people
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