PARTICIPATION Go For Life Grants Making a Difference
862 groups nationwide will share an allocation of €350,000 under the tenth Go for Life National Grant Scheme for Sport and Physical Activity for Older people. Mary Hanafin T.D., Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport announced details of the allocations today under the Go for Life National Grant Scheme, which aims to help local clubs and organisations to increase opportunities for their older members to actively participate in recreational sport and a range of physical activities.
This year over 1000 applications were received from older people's groups all over the country. The 862 successful applicants include active retirement associations, senior citizens clubs, ICA guilds, sports clubs, Local Sports Partnerships, day centres and community centres in 26 counties. The grant aid is being used to buy sports equipment and to fund sport and activity programmes.
Making the announcement Mary Hanafin, T.D. said "last year over 24,000 people participated in physical activity directly funded by this grant scheme. People are staying more physically active and as a result improving their social, mental and physical well-being which in effect leads to substantial savings in health and long term care costs. The grants announced today are used by communities across the country in the promotion of physical activity for older people. It also provides another welcome prospect for older people particularly in rural areas to get involved in their locality and feel a lot less isolated. "
Welcoming the announcement, John Treacy, Chief Executive of the Irish Sports Council said: "Now, more than ever, people need encouragement and engagement and Go for Life has proven over the last ten years to be very effective in persuading older people to become physically active and engaged with groups and communities as well as highlighting all the benefits of an active lifestyle to thousands of older people."
Robert Grier, Chairman of the Go for Life Steering Committee acknowledged the support of the Irish Sports Council for the programme and, to mark the tenth anniversary of the grant scheme, presented the Irish Sports Council with a framed photograph featuring some of the many thousands of older people who have enjoyed the benefits of the Go for Life grants over the last ten years.
Go for Life is an Age & Opportunity initiative which is funded by the Irish Sports Council. John Hynes, Chairman, Age & Opportunity pointed out that "Increasing physical activity among older people can lead to substantial savings in health and long-term care costs because of the physical and psychological health benefits it confers. The Go for Life programme is an excellent demonstration of how modest amounts spent on prevention can save money in the long run while promoting more engaged local communities."
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