Sports and Recreation report by Antonia Martin

Sport & Recreation Officer – Antonia Martin

Meet and Train
Meet and Train continues to run every Wednesday evening at 7pm in Johnstown Park, Finglas. A number of the group completed the Adidas Race 5 mile race in the Phoenix Park that took place on the 17th of July. Many are also training to complete the Adidas 10 mile on the 21st of August and the Dublin half marathon on the 18th of September. A number of new members have also joined the group over the summer months and they are gradually building up their running time.

Aqua Fit
The third Aqua Fit programme for Older Adults recently commenced in the Ballymun Leisure Centre and the two Finglas programmes will commence in the first week of September. These programmes continue to attract high numbers of Older Adults every week.

Fall Prevention Exercise Programme
Preparations are underway to ensure the smooth transition of the Falls Prevention Exercise Programme to the Ballymun Leisure Centre. This programme will commence on Thursday the 24th of September. This is a new and innovative initiative and the first programme of its kind to be piloted in a Dublin City Council Leisure Centre. The success of the programme can be attributed to an excellent partnership between Dublin City Council, the HSE and Ballymun/Whitehall Partnership.

Active Leadership Award
The North West Area has 11 new Active Leaders following completion of the Irish Sports Council Active Leadership Course that took place in Poppintree Sports Centre on Saturday the 3rd of July. These new leaders are now equipped with the skills and knowledge to plan and deliver physical activity sessions for children in their care.

Summer Projects for People with Disabilities Assistance was provided to both Rainbows and Scoil Chiarain Summer Projects to deliver Sports Days, Basketball and fun and games sessions throughout the month of July.

Tennis
Adult Tennis Lessons were available at the Tennis Courts in Trinity Comprehensive School every day from 4 – 5pm from the 12th to the 30th of July at a cost of €3 per hour.

Merville Court Garden Party
Physical activity was incorporated into the Garden Party at Merville Court, Sheltered Housing Complex which was held on Tuesday the 27th of July.
Activities included indoor seated exercise to music and games of French Boules in the Garden.

St Helena’s Mini Mini Marathon
The Sport and Recreation Officer worked along side St. Helena’s Family Resource Centre to organise and run their annual Mini Mini Marathon. The event involves walking from St. Helena’s Family Resource Centre to Mellowes Park. Participants then do a lap of the park followed by some light cardiovascular and strength exercises and a short Tai Chi Session. They then return to St. Helena’s to receive their certificates. The event predominately targets Older Adults.

Code of Ethics and Good Practice in Children’s Sport This course is aimed at people working with young people in sports clubs and aims to raise awareness of good practice when working with children in sport and also to provide participants with an increased understanding of the different types of abuse. This training programme was delivered by the Sport and Recreation Officer to Summer Project Staff in Dublin City University in early July.

Positive Ageing Week
Positive Ageing Week will run from the 24th Of September to the 2nd of October. As part of this, the Sport and Recreation Team will host a Sports Day for Older Adults in Ballyfermot Leisure Centre on the 29th of September. Older Adults from all over Dublin City will be invited to attend on the day.
A Health Fair for Older Adults will also take place in the Finglas Youth Resource Centre on Friday the 1st of October as part of Positive Ageing Week.

Camogie Programmes
The Sport and Recreation Officer is working with Erin’s Isle with the aim of delivering two camogie programmes in Finglas in the autumn. The first of these programmes is called Puc around Town and aims to introduce camogie to more girls in the area and creating more links into the club. The second programme, Camogie Aerobics, aims to increase fitness whilst learning basic camogie skills. This programme will target woman who have played camogie in the past and would like to participate non-competitively to improve their fitness and also woman who have children in the sport and would like to pick up a few skills so they can help them practice.

Basketball
Basketball for young people with learning disabilities will recommence in September in St. Kevin’s Community College in Ballygall. The target age group will be increased to attract new participants and help sustain the programme.

Kiddercise
Kiddercise is a fun exercise programme for children under 10 took. The programme will re-commence in St. Canices Boys National School in September and a second programme will be set up in a girls school in the area.

Ageing with Confidence
The Sport and Recreation Officer in partnership with the Tolka Area Partnership Older Person’s Co-ordinator is working with Ballygall Active Retirement Group to commence the delivery of the Ageing with Confidence in Finglas East in September.
Contact: Antonia Martin – 087 1254709