22 Roscommon groups are among 1,064 groups nationwide who have been awarded grants to fund physical activity for older people.
The “Go for Life” Grant Scheme from Age & Opportunity and Sport Ireland recently announced grants totalling almost €300,000. Roscommon groups were allocated a total of €6,700.
The scheme is delivered nationally with the support of the Local Sports Partnerships and the HSE. The goal of the scheme is to encourage older people to get involved in sport and physical activity in their communities and the funds allocated are used by groups to buy equipment, run sports events or to try new activities.
Now in its sixteenth year, it has so far awarded over €5 million in almost 12,000 grants during its lifetime. Applications have increased each year since the launch of the National Grant Scheme in 2001. This year saw a record number of applications and a record number of grants awarded. 27% of successful applications were from designated disadvantaged areas.
Grant recipients include Active Retirement Groups, ICA guilds, Local Sports Partnerships, Sports Clubs, Family Resources Centres and many others who provide older people with opportunities to get active.
The Roscommon groups to receive funding were as follows:
€240 Boyle ICA
€240 Ballymoe + District ARA
€250 Strokestown Co-op Community Centre Ltd.
€250 Women’s Group Strokestown
€260 Drumboylan ICA
€260 Boyle ARA
€260 Breedogue ARA
€260 Lisacul Active Age
€240 Roscara Active Age Group
€1,400 Roscommon Sports Partnership
€240 Four Roads (Tisrara) ARA
€260 Gorthaganny Active Age Group ARA
€260 Roscommonn Town ARA
€260 Rooskey ARA
€260 Drum ICA
€260 Alzheimer Society of Ireland, Roscommon
€260 Ballaghaderreen ARA
€260 Gleann ICA
€240 Loughglynn Castlerea (Woodlands Evergreen) ARA
€240 Elphin Day Care Centre (Elphin Social Services)
€240 Family Life Centre (Family Resource Centre)
€260 Castlerea ARA
Further details about the Go for Life Programme can be found on ageandopportunity.ie.