Council unveils Disability Sports Hubs project and Inclusive Sports Facility Accreditation for Omagh Leisure Complex

The Council has been working in partnership with Disability Sport NI to deliver this project with funding provided by the Department of Communities, via Sport NI.

The project represents an overall capital and revenue investment of approximately £150,000 and this has facilitated the purchase of tandem bicycles, hand cycles, track chairs and trikes.

Speaking at the launch of the Disability Sports Hubs project, the Chairman of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Stephen McCann said:

"Fermanagh and Omagh District Council is committed to working in partnership with other key stakeholders to deliver projects which add value to the quality of life of the people of our district and I believe that the development of the Disability Sports Hubs through our partnership with Disability Sport NI, is tangible evidence of the benefits to be accrued from such partnerships.

"The partnership has also secured “Inclusive Sports Facility” accreditation for Omagh Leisure Complex, the second Council facility to have achieved this prestigious award, the other being Fermanagh Lakeland Forum.

"The ‘Inclusive Sports Facility’ accreditation and the new Disability Sports Hubs will be excellent resources which will help support and encourage people with a disability to get involved in sport and physical activity.”

(The Chairman of FODC, Councillor Stephen McCann, receives the Inclusive Sports Facility Accreditation award for Omagh Leisure Complex from Aubrey Bingham, Community Sport Manager, Disability Sport NI. Also pictured are  Liz Wilson, Head of Leisure Recreation and Sport, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and Kevin O'Neill, Chief Executive, Disability Sport NI.) 

The Hubs will be located at the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum, Enniskillen and Omagh Leisure Complex and will provide a range of activities and programmes that will be disability specific as well as providing inclusive opportunities for participation in a wide range of leisure and sports programmes.

Through this project the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council aims to address one of the key themes of the Fermanagh and Omagh 2030 Community Plan by helping to improve the physical, mental and emotional well-being of the local community.

By working in partnership with Disability Sport Northern Ireland, the Council is striving to improve access and inclusion to sports facilities and programmes for all people across the District.

The substantial investment in local facilities and disability sports equipment highlights the Council’s and Disability Sport NI’s commitment to ensuring opportunities will be facilitated and sustained for the foreseeable future.

Disability Sports Hub Project is funded by the Department for Communities through Sport NI and managed by Disability Sport NI in partnership with Fermanagh and Omagh District Council.

Kevin O’Neill, Disability Sport NI’s Chief Executive said,

“The establishment of a Disability Sports Hub in all eleven of our District Council areas is a real game changer for people with disabilities here.

"Disabled people are currently half as likely to participate in sport as non-disabled people and this initiative will make a huge difference in helping us get more people with disabilities active in every area of Northern Ireland."

Fergus Devitt, Director of Active Communities at the Department for Communities said,

“I am delighted that the Department is able to support the implementation of the disability sector’s ‘Active Living: No Limits’ Action Plan that seeks over the next 5 years to bring about positive change to the social, recreational and sporting life of people with disabilities.

“Our investment of £1m will increase opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in sporting activities, to provide equipment for disability sports hubs in each Council area and also to enable access to several watersports venues and activities.

“It is important that we maintain this impressive start to our collective implementation of the Action Plan, to ensure the continued positive experiences of involvement and inclusion and to promote not only recreational enjoyment of sporting activity but potentially the development of our Paralympic champions for the future.”

Sport Northern Ireland Chair George Lucas added,

“Sport Northern Ireland warmly welcomes the launch of the new District Council Disability Sports Hubs.

"These hubs will help support local people with disabilities to enjoy all the physical, mental and social benefits of participation in sport and physical activity.

"We look forward to continuing to work with Disability Sport NI, the Department for Communities and our other partners, to implement the Active Living: No Limits Action Plan and deliver positive change to the social, recreational and sporting lives of people with disabilities across Northern Ireland.”