22 September 2006 Courtesy POST from Donegal Sports Partnership funding information Share this Article 0 0 0 Shares! 0 Shares! Grants for Physical Activity and Sport Age & Opportunity is delighted to announce the 6th round of the Go for Life National Grant Scheme for Sport and Physical Activity for Older People. This year €330,000 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. “Over the last four years, the evidence is that applicants have imagination and integrity in terms of how they use the grant. The response to the challenge of creating opportunities for older people to be more physically active is being met in a wide variety of ways.”- John O’Donoghue T.D., Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism (Dec 2005) Last year over 500 groups nationwide shared in excess of €300,000 under the fifth phase of the scheme. Successful applicants included active retirement associations, senior citizens clubs, ICA guilds, sports clubs, day centres and community centres. The grant aid was used to buy sports equipment, to fund sport and activity programmes and to contribute to the cost of organising local sports fests. Every county in Ireland from Cork to Donegal, Wexford to Galway, was represented amongst the groups receiving grants. One of last year’s successful recipients North Leitrim Forum held a day of physical activity for over 200 older people. “It’s been great to see older people start to blossom once they begin to get out and socialise It keeps people young and alive and can help relieve the depression often common in isolated rural areas. This in turn can take the pressure off services, including the HSE, if older people become more confident and physically able.” – Brenda Whitley, Active Age Officer with Community Connections. 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 gfl@mie.ie. Details and Application form 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 Wednesday 18 October, 2006. Visit www.olderinireland.ie for more information on the Go for Life programme or on Age & Opportunity. 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: o it can help relieve the disability and pain associated with common diseases (like cardiovascular disease, arthritis, osteoporosis, and hypertension.) o it can also contribute greatly to the management of some mental disorders such as depression. o 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 Share this Article 0 0