LSP Projects

Below is a list of example projects being implemented throughout the LSP networks:

Girls in Action Programme - Meath LSP

The Girls in Action programme is a joint initiative between Meath Local Sports Partnership and the HSE. The programme targets teenage girls attending secondary schools who do not normally participate in physical activity and/or sport. The programme co-ordinators liaise directly with participating schools, their teachers, activity instructors and the girls themselves. Activities range from Dance, Yoga, Pilates, Martial Arts, Belly Dancing and Thai Chi to name but a few. The programme has grown from strength to strength since its initiation in 2006 with a total of six secondary schools currently participating attracting over 100 girls. One of the conditions of the Girls in Action programme is that it must take place as an extra curricular activity with sessions being carried out at lunch-time or after school. This has not deterred the schools and congratulations must be extended to the teachers who give up their own time to ensure the programme is offered to the girls within the school. The Girls in Action programme for 2007/2008 concluded with a Dance Fest held in Simonstown. Over 70 girls from Eureka in Kells, Beaufort College, Mercy Convent and Loreto Navan all participated in the event.

The WASP Programme - Waterford LSP

I am 'Wizzy' the Wasp and I am the mascot for WASP. WASP stands for the Waterford Active Schools Programme. Waterford Sports Partnership is on a mission to get families in Waterford more active more often! So, how does the Programme work? Waterford Sports Partnership in partnership with Primary Schools in Waterford is encouraging adults to do at least 30 minutes activity and children to do at least 60 minutes activity at least five days a week. Children in participating schools will be given a record card by their teacher and when the child/adult has been active the teacher will give them their Wizzy reward sticker to stick on their card. The aim is to earn as many WIZZY stickers as possible. Each class teacher will also take part in the programme.

Be Active 55 - Mayo LSP

Be Active 55 aims to promote physical activity in the over-55s and to make leisure centres more attractive and friendly places for this age group. The project is a partnership between the Mayo Sports Partnership, the HSE West and the leisure industry in Co Mayo. The Be Active 55 project involves a programme of mobility type activities and "fun and fit" classes specifically aimed at the over-55s.

'Safe Cycling' a big hit with Limerick Primary Schools pupils and teachers:

Limerick City Sports Partnership and Limerick Community Garda Cycle Division completed a very popular project, in 2007 - 2008, which involved local primary schools from the Northside and Southside of Limerick City. This initiative started on June 12th 2007, with one school chosen to pilot the project. It proved very popular with the students, principal, teachers and parents, and it was decided to extend the project city-wide.

The Garda Community Cycle Squad visited each school and put the children through a series of cycling skills, with the emphasis on 'Safe Cycling in Safe Areas'. The long-term plan is for parents/guardians to get involved and take the children to safe areas and use the cycle paths, such as areas within and surrounding the University of Limerick, and the Limerick City Sports Partnership is lobbying for more cycle lanes to be developed in the City. This project aims to increase awareness of cycling as a sustainable form of exercise in their everyday lives.

Part 2 of the project involved a series of skill drills, specially designed by the Garda Cycle Squad, in which the pupils from each school pitted their cycling skills against each other. A team of eight children from each of the participating schools were judged on a three-tier basis: Safety, Behaviour and Skills.
There was a points system devised to select an overall winning team from the eight competing schools in the Northside and the six schools in the Southside. The BDO Get BACk Challenge, which supports sporting disadvantage, very kindly sponsored the overall project, and donated a computer to the schools judged as the overall winners.

All the competing schools were issued with the points total for each of the teams representing the school. The computer was presented to the principal of the successful schools, by the three times Tour De France winner, Greg LeMond, who said that he, was delighted that such projects were running in Limerick. This has been a hugely successful initiative, and the project will be running on an annual basis.