Latest News from Laois Sports Partnership

Active with Laois Sports Partnership 

Being Active leads to:

• Increased health benefits
• Better mental health
• Feeling great
• Confidence
• Increase in productivity

Sport Ireland and it’s partners are working hard to create plans for European Week of Sport 2022 which will take place from 23rd- 30th September. There will be some changes again this year given the ongoing worldwide pandemic, however sport and physical activity is more important now than ever before and we will celebrate it. 

All events and activities will be planned and developed in line with the most up to date public health guidelines and safety measures in place. 

More details will be announced in the coming weeks and we look forward to celebrating European Week of Sport in September.

List of Events Below 

Friday 23rd September

Sit Fit with Moez – St Marys Hall (11am – 12pm)

Saturday 24th September

Inclusive Family Cycle – Vicarstown (11am – 3pm)

Tuesday 27th September

Archery (Closed Event)

Thursday 29th September

Scooch – St. Marys Hall Portlaoise  (11am-12pm)

Monday 26th – Friday 30th 

Activities in Midlands Prison (Closed Events)

Park Runs

Parkruns are free, weekly, community events all around the world. Saturday morning events are 5k and take place in parks and open spaces. On Sunday mornings, there are 2k junior parkruns for children aged four to 14.  Parkrun is a positive, welcoming and inclusive experience where there is no time limit and no one finishes last. Everyone is welcome to come along, whether you walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate. There are 134 events around the country to choose from. There are both Junior and Senior Parkruns in Laois every weekend:

St Feargals/ Rathdowney Junior Parkrun

Sunday 9:30am

Vicarstown Junior Parkrun

Sunday 11am

Vicarstown Senior Parkrun

Saturday 9:30am

Laois Connects

This year, the Laois Connects Programme, co-ordinated by Laois County Council will take place from the 1st October to the 31st of October 2022. Events are spread throughout the county and there should be something for everyone in the schedule of events.

Laois Connects organising Committee represents Laois County Council, Laois Sports Partnership, Laois PPN, HSE, Laois Partnership Company, Mental Health Ireland, Mountmellick Youth and Family Resource Centre, Mountmellick Community School, LOETB & Healthy Ireland.

The activities organised by Laois Sports Partnership and the Rathdowney Errill Activity Hub for Laois Connects include:

Actiivator Poles, Menowell, Prime Time of Life, Krav Maga, and Scooch. For more information on our activities visit www.laoissports.ie

Prime Time

FREE 12 WEEK PROGRAMME FOR PEOPLE AGED 50-80 YEARS.

🗣 “I’ve done this programme before and I found it great. It was at the start of Covid so I did it online. The support and encouragement was great, would highly recommend” – Participant Feedback

Prime Time of Life is a FREE fully funded 12-week evidence-based exercise and health education programme for middle-aged and older adults (aged 50+). We have delivered this programme twice in the past and we are delighted to tell you that we have received funding to deliver three of these programmes early October 2022. All ‘Prime Time of Life’ programmes will be delivered at the same time of year, but one programme will be delivered online, one onsite in Portarlington and one onsite in Mountrath. Please sign up to the programme that suits you best.

For more information or to register, visit www.edufit.ie.

Menowell

FREE 6 WEEK PROGRAMME FOR WOMEN IN ALL STAGES OF THE MENOPAUSE

MenoWell is a FREE fully funded 6-week online physical activity and health education programme for women in all stages of menopause. It will start on Monday 3rd October and will include two Menopause specific exercise classes per week and one Menopause specific health masterclass per week.

When does it start?

MenoWell will start from Monday 3rd October 2022. There will be two exercise classes per week, Monday 6-6:40pm and Thursday 8-8:40pm for 6-weeks. The 40-minute MenoModule workshop will be delivered every Wednesday from 7-7:40pm.

How much is it?

We are delighted to say this programme is brought to you by @edufit in partnership with Laois Sports Partnership, Laois Connects, Healthy Ireland and the Health Service Executive so places on this programme are completely FREE!

How can I sign up?

Please complete this sign up form: https://edufit.ie/menowell/. Please note that the closing date for signing up is Thursday 29th September 2022. Please note places are limited so please sign up as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis

If you have any questions, please email ruth@edufit.ie or kiera@edufit.ie or WhatsApp 083 374 8262.

Disability

Summer Camps

This summer in partnership with the FAI, The Rock GAA, Portlaoise GAA, Portlaoise Panthers and Paddle works we delivered a  number of inclusive summer camps including A SOCCER CAMP, 2x inclusive Cul Camps, a basketball camp, and kayaking/canoeing camp. We also delivered and inclusive learn to cycle camp and the Portlaoise Comat Academy delivered a Corrective Gymnastics camp which too, was inclusive. Each camp was in receipt of brilliant feedback, and this is down to the hard work and support of all those organising and delivering these opportunities for all to be active.

Disability Bikes

Last year, Laois Sports Partnership were able to purchase 3 accessible bikes, the motor assisted bike has been the most popular of the three and has received amazing feedback. This summer the bikes have been put to great use during the brilliant weather, where families have been able to take part in a group cycle along the canal at Vicarstown.

“The bike is fantastic. It makes it possible for a family outing to be inclusive for all. It’s great that we can all join in for a family cycle.” 

 “One of the most amazing experiences I have ever shared with Jason. Although I couldn’t see his face, I could tell by his happy voice singing along the canal and his relaxed legs he was in his element. Can’t wait to go again!”

These are some of the messages received from users of the bikes, for more information contact us by email info@laoissports.ie or call 0578671248.

Training Courses

Safeguarding Courses

Laois Sports Partnership deliver Safeguarding 1, 2 and 3 courses. These courses are delivered online and are each only €18. Please find list of upcoming courses below:

Safeguarding 1 Online Workshop, Child Protection in Sport

Tuesday, September 20th
6:30pm

Safeguarding 3 Designated Liaison Person
Wednesday, October 12th
6:30pm

Please note: In order to complete either Safeguarding 2 or 3, Safeguarding 1 will have to be completed prior to the relevant workshop.

PAL’s Workshop

Go for Life is the national programme for sport and physical activity for older people in Ireland. It is run by over 900 volunteers who we call PALs. A PAL is a Physical Activity Leader who is already part of a group or club and is willing to lead activities. PALs lead their local group in things like short exercise routines, fun games, simple dances and sports like pitch and toss. Groups may be an Active Retirement group, a sports club, an ICA group or some social group that meets regularly.

The workshop will commence in September 2022 through December 2022. The workshop will run on Thursdays in the Portlaoise Parish Centre for 9 weeks with a break in the middle. The dates are as follows:

• September: 29th

• October: 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th

• November: 10th, 17th, 24th

• December: 1st

All workshops will take place from 10.00am and 3.00pm and refreshments will be provided on the day. We would ask you to wear flat shoes/runners and comfortable clothing.

Anyone training to become a PAL will need to attend nine different workshops (five hours each) and engage in both practical and theory work to ensure they receive all the knowledge and skills to lead their local group in physical activity.  This initiative is free to participants and is delivered in partnership with Local Sports Partnerships or the HSE.

The PALs Workshops are:

• Basic Principles
• Sit Fit
• Better Balance
• Going Strong
• Rolling and Bowling
• Pitching and Tossing
• Stepping and Strolling
• PALs Skills
• Whirling and Twirling

We have over 1,000 PALs nationwide who are all part of our growing PALs network. Each of our PALs is invited regularly to come together with other PALs for refresher workshops or sports fests where they can meet and chat, exchange ideas and share experiences.

To register, visit our website www.laoissports.ie or call Tommy Guilfoyle on (083) 071 6721 or tguilfoyle@laoissports.ie.