Sport Northern Ireland has announced a new £2million funding initiative to help local communities get active and engaged in outdoor sport and recreation.
Outdoor Spaces, part of the organisation’s four-year Every Body Active 2020 initiative, aims to develop new outdoor recreation facilities and infrastructure. It is funded by the National Lottery and applications are open to community groups, voluntary and charity organisations, governing bodies and statutory authorities.
Sport Northern Ireland is aiming to deliver at least one new project in each of the eleven local council areas.
Opening the initiative, Sport Northern Ireland Interim Chair Brian Delaney said: “Northern Ireland boasts a rich variety of outdoor spaces, be it our woodlands and mountains, our coasts or our urban parklands. This initiative is about harnessing the fantastic potential of the natural environment for sport and physical activity, and encouraging people to access it in responsible and sustainable ways. Sport Northern Ireland is committed to ensuring local communities can enjoy, engage and excel in sport and, thanks to National Lottery players, we look forward to continuing to invest in outdoor spaces to achieve this aim.”
Sports Minister, Paul Givan, MLA said: “I welcome this announcement by Sport NI to invest £2million of National Lottery funds in our outdoor recreation facilities. Outdoor Spaces is a fantastic initiative which will help to get more people and communities involved in physical recreation by adding to our existing outdoor facilities. I would encourage community groups, with suitable projects to apply. This investment which will encourage people of all ages and abilities to get active, become healthier and to enjoy the beauty of our countryside.”
For further information on Everybody Active 2020: Outdoor Spaces please contact:
- Damien McConville 028 9038 3849
- Stephen McIlveen 028 9038 3848
- Mike McClure 028 9038 3855