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Advocacy & Policy

As the Voice of Sport and Recreation in Northern Ireland, we pride ourselves on ensuring the best interests of our members and the wider sporting sector. This is reflected within our Strategic Plan.

What are All Party Groups?

All Party Groups provide a forum by which MLAs and outside organisations and individuals can meet to discuss shared interests in a particular cause or subject.

The Northern Ireland Sports Forum is the secretariat to the APG on Sport & Physical Recreation at the NI Assembly. This provides the NI Sports Forum with a key role in ensuring MLA’s are aware of challenges and developments within the sporting sector and provides opportunities for sports organisations to engage with MLA’s and government departments on an ongoing basis.

The All Party Group meets approximately three or four times per year to discuss relevant items and to have evidence sessions from bodies such as Sport NI, Department for Communities and local authorities.

APG on Sport & Physical Recreation Purpose:

To ensure that sport and physical recreation has a high profile in the NI Assembly.

To influence Assembly policy, to liaise with Sport NI, the governing bodies and other organisations in Northern Ireland so that each organisations will be able to keep MLAs informed on matters affecting sport and physical recreation.

To promote sport and physical recreation which results in improved physical recreation.

To promote sport and physical recreation which results in improved physical and mental health.

To recognise the value of sport and physical recreation as a tool, that can affect change across our most marginalised communities.

To develop cross sectorial working with business, governing bodies, community/voluntary funders, universities and government that promotes, celebrates and collaborates through sport.