Sports Volunteer Development Programme

 Participants of the Inaugural Sports Volunteer Development Programme Honoured

The 18 participants of the inaugural Sports Volunteer Development Programme were presented with their certificates of completion by the Cathaoirleach Cllr. John Bailey and Mr. John Treacy CEO of the Irish Sports Council at a reception in Dún Laoghaire County Hall last night.

 The Sports Volunteer Development Programme is an initiative of the UCD Athletic Union Council (AUC), the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Sports Partnership and the UCD Centre for Sports Studies.  Based on the experiences of the partner organisations in working with sports clubs within UCD and the local community, the aim of this programme is to equip volunteers with the necessary skills to effectively contribute to the management and development of their sports club.  By providing quality training to participants it is hoped that the programme will create a culture of active leadership and will enable the participants to become positive roles models within UCD and community sports clubs.

 During the pilot programme participants attended workshops and seminars in October & November on the following subjects:

• Sports First Aid
• Code of Ethics & Good Practice for Children in Sport
• Sports Inclusion
• Volunteer Recruitment and Management
• Structures of Sport in Ireland
• Club Budgets and Grant Applications
• Sports Governance
• Communications & Media
• Event Management

Commenting at the event the Cathaoirleach, John Bailey said "sport would not happen without the thousands of volunteers who coach manage, officiate, administer and support participants at all levels.  This programme is fantastic in that provides quality training to these volunteers who give of their time to clubs in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown".

 In congratulating the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Sports Partnership and UCD on the programme, John Treacy said that "it was an excellent initiative which demonstrated what the partners could achieve when they come together.  Furthermore he said that the "training provided to volunteers is of vital assistance in helping their clubs to grow and increase participation at all levels.

The Participants of the inaugural programme were:

Sarah Boyle (Meteors Basketball Club), Claire Dooley (Notre Dame HC), Nicola Fitzgerald (St. Michaels Rowing Club), Lorraine Gallagher (Ballinteer Community School), John Gerrard (Dun Laoghaire Golf Club), Gavin Heuston (UCD Rugby Club), Shane Holohan (East Coast Surf Club), Samantha Johnston (Muckross Park Gymnastics Club), Ian Lamkin (Power Soccer/ CP Athletics), Claire Leyden (UCD Rifle Club), Aisling Markey (Rising Phoenix Martial Arts), Aisling McGann (UCD Tennis Club), Ray McMenamin (Lakelands FC), Aidan Murray (UCD Aikido Club), Oisin O'Coigligh (UCD Tai Chi Chun Club), Norma O'Mahony (UCD Ladies Boat Club), Ger Ryan (St. Michaels Rowing Club), and Laura Shaughnessy (UCD Athletics Club).

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Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Sports Partnership

 The Irish Sports Council established the Local Sports Partnership (LSP) initiative as a forum for sport at a local level, which is charged with improving opportunities to participate in sport for every member of the community. The key aims of the LSPs are to increase participation in sport and to ensure that local resources are used to best effect.

 Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Sports Partnership was set up in April 2008 and works closely with the Local Authority and other key partners to promote participation, inclusion and coordination in sport in the County. Partners include; the County Council, Third level sector, VECs, Health Board, FÁS, commercial interests, sports clubs, schools and voluntary/community organisations. Over the past 3 years a key focus of the work of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Sports Partnership has been in the area of sports coach/volunteer training and education.