Laois Sports Partnership

Happy Nollaig na mBan! 🤩 In keeping with the spirit of the day, we want to say a heartfelt thank you to the incredible frontline staff working year round to support families and young people in our community. Celebrating Wellness & Collaboration 🌟 As part of the Laois Offaly Children and Young People's Services Committee (CYPSC) we were delighted to support a Wellness Day in December for some of these men and women, focussing on connection, self-care and laying the foundation for continued collaboration in the year ahead. Through engaging activities with Midland Escape and Empower with Emma, participants took a step back from their daily duties to network and share experiences. The thoughtful Creativity for Wellbeing workbooks provided by Offaly Development Company, encouraged reflection and inspired resilience for challenges ahead. A Huge Thank You to Our Partners 🙏 This event was made possible through the collaboration of amazing partners under the CYPSC umbrella. Special thanks to the Steering Committee for their leadership and hard work - Deirdre Phelan (CYPSC), Clive Davis (Youth Work Ireland Laois), Sarah Butler (Jigsaw) and Róisín Lawlor (Laois LSP). Thanks also to David McCaffrey in Offaly LSP for the additional support for activities. Here's to building on this momentum to support those who make a difference in our communities every day! Sport Ireland #S4E #Sport4Empowerment #ESF+

As another year draws to a close, our CEO Caroline Myers wants to wish all the clubs, organisations, societies and participants we have worked with this year a very Merry Christmas. 🎁⭐🎄 "I want to take a moment to reflect on all we’ve achieved together in 2024. This festive season, we celebrate not only the joys of Christmas but also the spirit of collaboration and sustainability that has brought us this far. A big thank you to all of our tutors, volunteers, clubs, partner agencies and you the people of Laois for your continued support and participation in activities with the Laois Sports Partnership. There are a number of walks and runs around the county over the Christmas period, and we encourage everyone to get out at some stage and get active! We hope to see you all back in 2025, rested and recharged for another year of activity in County Laois!" #EverybodyactiveinLaois Sport Ireland

⭐️ 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞 ⭐️ This month, Róisín Lawlor, our ESF+ Social Innovation in Sport Officer completed the Literacy Champion in the Workplace Programme with Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board. The aim of this exciting initiative was to create a network of literacy champions across Laois and Offaly, who will raise awareness, reduce stigma, and support adults with unmet literacy need and included completion of a SETU Literacy and Society Level 6 Module delivered by Family Literacy Specialist, Dr. Lána McCarthy. As we continue roll-out of the Sport Ireland “Sport 4 Empowerment” programme in the county, having Róisín as a Literacy Champion in our organisation will support our participants from across the community, and help us to achieve the key pillars of the S4E programme. These include removing barriers to participation for some of the most marginalised groups in our community, helping to develop the skills and confidence of participants to engage in training opportunities and lifelong learning, improving employability prospects by enhancing transferrable skills, and helping participants to develop social connections and sense of belonging. While sport and physical activity is the platform we use to help achieve these goals, understanding the barriers faced by individuals such as unmet literacy needs, and working collaboratively with them and with our partner organisations while leveraging their expertise, is a key principle of S4E to foster social inclusion and empowerment. As part of the initiative, our dedicated Communications Officer Sarah Cullen, also completed Plain Language Training on behalf of the organisation. Sarah incorporated the learnings, along with other improved accessibility features, in the development of our new company website which we proudly launched last week – www.laoissports.ie We look forward to continue working in partnership with the new Literary Champions Network and local agencies to support individual needs and build collective community responses to overcoming barriers to initial engagement. For more information about the initiative, contact Tamara Latham, Regional Literacy Co-ordinator LOETB. Sport Ireland #Sport4Emowerment #S4E #AdultLiteracyForLife #Inclusion #Innvoation #Training #Access #Community #ESF+

Fantastic evening at the Laois Community and Voluntary Awards last night. A huge congratulations to all the nominees across all the categories. A great acknowledgement for all the amazing 👏 work they do day to day in their communities and clubs. We were delighted to sponsor the Sports Award Category with winners 🏆 Laois Labs Football Club and runners up St. Albans AC. 🎊🎉

"Winter Wellness" is Back by Popular Demand! 🌟 Don't miss out on this FREE 4-week online health programme designed for adults in #Laois! Get ready to embrace a healthier winter with expert-led health education, cooking demonstrations, and exercise classes right from the comfort of your home. What’s included in 'Winter Wellness'? ✨ 1 x 60-minute live masterclass with Dr Kiera Ward (exercise physiologist & sports scientist) and Ruth Kavanagh ANutr (registered associate nutritionist). ✨ 7 live online exercise classes per week (see full class schedule in the poster below). ✨ On-demand access to a library of exercise videos and cooking videos. 🔗Register now: https://lnkd.in/eRfaU2FR Got questions? We’re here to help! 📧 Email: programmes@edufit.ie This ‘Winter Wellness’ programme is designed and delivered by our partners EduFit and funded by Healthy Laois and the Health Service Executive. #WinterWellness #Laois #edufit #getactive #winterhealth Laois County Council Sport Ireland

Last week, our ESF+ Social Innovation in Sport Officer Róisín Lawlor, took part in a Léargas YouSport Mini Study Visit to Dublin and met with amazing professionals from across the European sport and youth sectors working to provide inclusive opportunities for young people using social sport methods. Along with LSP network colleagues from Limerick, Clare & Waterford, it was a great opportunity to exchange ideas and learn from our European counterparts. It was also a chance to highlight initiatives being developed through the Sport Ireland ESF+ Sport for Empowerment programme along with other socially inclusive youth projects delivered within our respective local sports partnerships. As part of the visit Róisín hosted delegates from Malta, Finland and Germany on a Job Shadow Day to Co. Laois. We are hugely grateful to all of our local partners who facilitated the visit, and helped to highlight the value of partnership working, collaboration and volunteerism to deliver inclusive opportunities for our local community. Thank you Laois GAA Development Officer, Dean Malone who welcomed us to Laois GAA Centre of Excellence and spoke to the delegates about community, grassroots activities, player development pathways and highlighted initiatives such as the Inclusive Cúl Camps. Laois GAA also hosts activities for our LSP Sports Inclusion Disability Programme, led by our SID Officer Catriona Slattery. Delegates were able to join in Activator Pole exercises and Seated Volleyball being delivered by Cationa and team of Community Tutors, with assistance from TY students from Scoil Chríost Rí. Catriona shared with the group our exciting plans for the development of a Vision Impaired (VI) & Physical Disability Community Sports Hub for the county, located at Portlaoise College, the first of its kind in the country. Thanks to Mr Daly and Ms Wilson at Portlaoise College for inviting us to join in the festive Intercultural Day celebrations taking place in the school during our visit. Along with a group of TY students, we also took part in a Diversity & Inclusion Training Session facilitated by the fantastic George Percy. Our final visit of the day was to Youth Work Ireland Laois, where the wonderful Elaine & Tara shared details of a youth sport leadership project delivered in collaboration with Laois LSP and heard how the young people used their new knowledge to co-ordinate and deliver activities to other young people fleeing war in the Ukraine. One of the inspirational young leaders shared his personal experience of the project and led us in fun games, a fantastic end to our Laois visit! Thanks to everyone who contributed to the Job Shadow Day and to Suzanne, Katie and Leargas Team, along with facilitator Emer for a wonderful week of knowledge sharing and partnership building opportunities. #ESF+ #S4E #Erasmus+ #YouSports

𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐂𝐨-𝐎𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐚𝐨𝐢𝐬 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐇𝐮𝐛 Please send Letter of Suitability and Curriculum Vitae by post or email to: Caroline Myers Email: cmyers@laoissports.ie Address: CEO, Laois Sports Partnership, Laois Leisure Portlaoise, Moneyballytyrrell, Portlaoise, Co. Laois. R32 YP11 Closing date for receipt of applications: 5pm Monday 21st October 2024 Sport Ireland

GREAT NEWS!🚨 Our 'MenoWell' programme with EduFit is back!! This is a FREE ONLINE 6-week multimodal exercise and health education programme for women in all stages of adult life. This programme is designed to support, educate, and empower women in preparation for changes in midlife, for women experiencing the menopausal transition, and for supporting women in life after menopause. It is suitable for adults of all fitness levels. 📅 Starting Tuesday 5th November at 8pm 💪 Attend 2 x 40-minute live online women- and menopause-specific multimodal exercise classes per week – Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8pm. 🤳 Watch 1 x 30-minute live online women- and menopause-specific health education masterclass per week – Mondays at 1pm. 💵 FREE as it is funded by Laois Sports Partnership and Healthy Laois. For more information and to sign up please click here: https://lnkd.in/exBxe7ik Please tag, share, and spread the word with anyone who may be interested in joining this programme. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us 😊. #menowell #Laois #health #fitness #strength #balance #flexibility #menopause #healthylaois EduFIT Laois County Council Sport Ireland

𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝟒 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: Last week, as part of the training and cooperation activities (TCA) of the Erasmus+ Youth Programme, the Italian National Agency of the Erasmus+IYOUTH Program Agenzia Italiana per la Gioventù - AIG hosted the activity Social Sport as a Tool for Social Inclusion. Attended by Róisín Lawlor, our ESF+ Social Innovation in Sport Officer, the aim of the Seminar/Partnership Building Activity (PBA) was to explore the power of social sport as a tool for social inclusion. This was a wonderful knowledge-sharing and partnership-building opportunity, bridging local experiences with international perspectives, fostering collaborations between sports and youth work at both local and international levels. The event explored the potential of social sport to enhance social cohesion. Róisín also had the opportunity to contribute to a panel discussion, sharing with participants from all across the EU and beyond, an overview of the Sport Ireland "Sport 4 Empowerment" programme in Laois LSP and through the growing ESF+ Network across the country. We are very grateful to Léargas and AIG for this opportunity and look forward to implementing the knowledge gained in our future S4E & LSP programmes. Sport Ireland #sport4empowerment #S4E #ESF+ #inclusion #innovation #socialsport #youngpeople #partnership #collaboration #ErasmusPlus

GREAT NEWS!! 📢 Our 'Prime Time of Life Online' programme with EduFit is back!! 🥳This is a FREE ONLINE 12-week multimodal exercise and health education programme for middle-aged and older adults over 35 years, with and without clinical conditions, living in county #Laois. It is suitable for adults of all fitness levels. 📅 Starting Tuesday 24th September 2024. 💪 Attend 2 x 40-minute exercise classes per week every Tuesday and Thursday from 7:00-7:40pm. 🤳 Watch 1 x 15-minute online health education workshop per week. 💵 FREE as it is funded through, Sport Ireland and Sláintecare, and the Government of Ireland. For more information and to sign up please click here: https://lnkd.in/eQFGU_cX Please tag, share, and spread the word with anyone who may be interested in joining this programme. You can view participant testimonials here: https://lnkd.in/ezi4KwUK If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us 😊. #primetimeoflife #Laois #health #fitness #strength #balance #flexibility #Slaintecare Sport Ireland EduFIT