SSRP has a Sports Inclusion Disability Officer (SIDO), Shane Hayes to oversee the management of the sports inclusion project. The aim of the SIDO project is to increase participation by people with a disability in sport and active recreation.
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SSRP provide quality opportunities for people of all abilities to participate in in sport and physical activity in both targeted and club/community settings.
The following progammes are available here in Sligo:
Games For All Programme
This ‘Games for All’ programme runs weekly on Saturday mornings for adults and young people with various disabilities and takes place at the Sports Complex, Cleveragh.
The programme involves a series of warm-up activities, skills sessions and fun games designed to get the participants active in a safe and fun environment. All of the activities, sessions and games are selected because of their inclusive nature and each of the participants commented that they are thoroughly enjoying the programme.
The ‘Games For All’ approach provides the participants involved with the opportunity to develop many of the core fundamental skills in sport including, movement, balance, co-ordination, catching and throwing and striking and kicking. This is important as it places the focus on the participants overall sporting and physical development rather than on a specific sport, with the emphasis on fun, enjoyment and social interaction.
The programme runs over two separate hour long sessions – one for adults (11am – 12pm) and one for young people (10am –11am).
Boccia Group
Boccia is a non-contact, target driven sport. It can be played by individuals, pairs or teams of three. The aim of the game is to throw leather balls as close as possible to a white target ball, or jack.
The balls are colored red or blue and the decision as to who plays which color next is decided by which balls are furthest from the jack. It remains the premier sport for athletes with severe disabilities and provides spectators and competitors with thrilling, high-level competition.
The Sligo Boccia group has been running for 6 years now with approximately 6 regular members. Boccia is a fully inclusive sport and people of all ability levels are welcome.
The Sligo Boccia group meet every second Friday at the Irish Wheelchair Association Building in Abbeyville from 1.30pm – 2.45pm
For information on joining Sligo Boccia group please contact:
The Manager, IWA on 071 91 55522
Wheelchair Basketball
These sessions are targeted at people with a physical disability but able-bodied people (family, friends, and volunteers) are welcome and also come along to participate.
The sessions take place every Tuesday, from 7-8pm in the Knocknarea Arena Sports Hall with days/dates depending on hall availability. A qualified basketball coach delivers the sessions and all of the basketball wheelchairs are provided.
Swimming For All
The Sports Inclusion Disability Project offers group swimming lessons for young people with disabilities in the Sano Vitae Leisure Centre at the Clarion Hotel, Sligo.
Programmes usually run for 10 weeks at a time and are delivered by qualified disability swim instructors from Splash Swim School. Volunteers with swim qualifications are also used to encourage and support the children in the water.
To find out more about Swimming For All programmes contact:
Brid Graham of Splash Swim School at bridmcnulty22@gmail.com
Tandem Cycling
This initiative targets people with a visual impairment. SSRP provides tandem road bikes to people with a visual impairment who would like to try out the sport of cycling.
The programme relies on the availability of sighted pilots to support people with visual impairments to avail of regular spins.
If interested in becoming a tandem pilot please contact Shane Hayes on 071 9161511 or shane@sligosportandrecreation.ie
Social Soccer
Social Soccer is a community football programme to make sport more accessible for people with mental health issues in the North West.
Physical activity is an important part in the treatment of some mental health conditions and its benefits in promoting positive mental and physical well-being are well documented. People from mental health services are significantly less likely to participate in sport and regular physical activity and the social soccer project was established to tackle this issue.
Initially aimed at individuals form Sligo/Leitrim Mental Health services the programme has now been opened to the wider community. By working together the various partners involved have identified, recruited and supported local adults from communities around the county to initiate and maintain their involvement in the programme. The Social Soccer project has the power to improve mental well-being through sport and social inclusion, delivering real benefits to people with mental health problems and can continue to go from strength to strength through the continued support and commitment of the agencies involved.
The sessions take place every Thursday from 1pm-2pm at Cleveragh Astro Pitch and any adults interested in playing soccer in a fun, non-competitive environment are welcome.
Outdoor Gym
Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership’s Green Gym initiative is an inclusive outdoor gym programme which is very similar to an indoor gym using various exercise machinery to provide a full body workout.
With support from SSRP Sligo Borough Council has provided a wide range of equipment to suit all needs and abilities at Doorly Park.
The equipment is installed outdoors so it is robust and weatherproof. This Gym provides a great opportunity for everyone to enjoy fitness and healthy active living for free.
Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership run the programme of inclusive outdoor gym sessions from April to July each year with a qualified instructor on hand to show participants how to use the equipment safely and correctly.
Please keep in touch with our facebook and website posts for updates on the Outdoor Gym programme.
Table Tennis
In conjunction with Sligo City Table Tennis Club Sports Inclusion Disability project offers weekly Table Tennis coaching at Sligo Grammar School every Tuesday night between 8.00pm – 10.00pm.
To find out more about these sessions please contact:
Adrian Flynn on 087 2765598 or ajdflynn@gmail.com
Enjoy Tennis Programme
Enjoy Tennis is a programme developed by Tennis Ireland in conjunction with local services, groups involved in the provision of activities for people with disabilities.
The aim of the programme is to create access to Tennis for people with disabilities. The programme in Sligo currently caters for people with Intellectual Disabilities through its ID Tennis programme and for people who are Visually Impaired through its Blind Tennis programme.
Sligo Tennis Club is now linked with the programme which takes place on a weekly basis.
Archery ‘Have a Go’ Days
The sport of Archery has been operating successfully in Sligo through a partnership established between SSRP and the Carrowmore Archers Club.
The club deliver Regular ‘Have a Go’ days in Archery on a monthly basis to promote the sport further and give people with a disability the chance to try out the sport of Archery to see if they would like to pursue it further.
For further information contact:
Robert Gawley on gawley71@gmail.com
Horse Riding
There are currently a number of elements to the Horse Riding programme for adults and young people with a disability available through the SSRP Sports Inclusion Project.
A series of programmes targeted at adults with a physical disability and young people of all ability levels continue to be facilitated and delivered through Keash Equestrian Centre.
These programmes including an Equine Assisted Therapy programme promote and encourage independence through participation and life learning with a specific emphasis on fostering positive physical and mental health.
For more information contact:
Eilish Divine at Keash Equestrian Centre on 0876772094 or devineeilish@eircom.net
Gym Able
Gym Able is an inclusive Gymnastics programme developed by Gymnastics Ireland to increase opportunities for people with disabilities to engage in the sport of Gymnastics.
In Sligo the programme is run by SSRP in conjunction with local Gymnastics Club Dy Namo who provides support in the form of qualified coaches and state of the art Gym facilities.
The programmes are currently run on an outreach basis through local special schools and disability units within mainstream schools.
Woodlands for Health
Woodlands For Health is an innovative development initiated by Coillte with a number of key partners which set out to identify the health value that walking in woodland areas can provide to people.
The programme has been operating in Sligo in conjunction with Sligo/Leitrim Mental health Services since 2018 and has been very popular with the participants engaging in the regular walking.
HSE Community Houses Initiatives
We run a range of physical activity programmes and opportunities with residents and staff in HSE Community houses around the county.
These include aerobics, walking, chair based exercise and cycling.
Yoga
This incorporates two programmes; Yoga for Kids aimed at children with Autism and Intellectual Disavbilities and Yoga for Well Being aimed at adults with Intellectual disabilities and also Adults from local Mental Health Services.
Activities for Young People with Autism
SSRP in partnership with with Sligo Autism Services and local community activity providers have developed a number of sports opportunities targeting young people with ASD.
The sports catered for include Surfing, Kayaking, Golf, Yoga, Athletics and Horse Riding.
The North West Stormers - Junior Multi Sport Club
The North West Stormers junior multi sport club was set-up in association with IWA Sport to help provide young people with physical disabilities with the opportunity to participate in regular sport in a safe and supportive environment.
The club have been operating for two years and meet on a monthly basis to participate in a range of indoor and outdoor sporting activities.
Find Out More
For further information on how to get involved with any of the Disability Sport Programmes please contact us at:
