Keeping Cork Active
Keeping Cork Active

Urban Outdoor Initiative

The ‘Urban Outdoor Adventure Initiative’ aims to create and enhance outdoor recreation opportunities for people with disabilities and youth groups in Cork City. This project is funded through Sport Ireland Dormant Accounts Fund and guided by the Sport Ireland Sport & Physical Activity in the Outdoors Policy.

This Urban Outdoor Initiative is coordinated by Cork Sports Partnership in association with the following partner organisations; Cork Education and Training Board, Cork City Council, Cork Healthy Cities, IWA Sport, COPE Foundation, Foroige and Youth Work Ireland. Together this working group consulted with key stakeholders to design a suite of programmes to meet the interests and needs of the target group.

The below programme of activities aims to support youth and people with a disability to enjoy sport and physical activity opportunities along the River Lee. The focus for the current initiative will focus on the following:

  • Bádoireacht
  • Cycling
  • Kayaking
  • Yoga
  • Angling
  • Orienteering
Urban Outdoor Initiative

TY CURRACH ROWING PROGRAMME

Delivered in partnership with Meitheral Mara

  • Who: Transition Year Classes
  • Duration: 6 Week Programme Delivered once per week
  • When: Meitheal Mara’s Bádóireacht staff can work with schools to find a time slot that works within the school’s own TY programme.
  • Session time: Students will attend a session that is 1.5 hours in duration each week.
  • Where: Where: Meitheal Mara’s rowing activities take place at Lapps Quay. Our boatyard is based at Crosses Green House. Both locations are in the city centre.
  • Capacity: 15 students per group
  • What is provide: Meitheal Mara has a full stock of life jackets. We can also provide students with rowing gloves as well as rain jackets & trousers when the need arises. What the students need to bring with them: Comfortable clothes, non-canvas shoes (the floor of the boats can get wet from splashes), a sense of fun!
  • Registration: Expression of Interest Form can be found on the programme page

BÁDOIREACHT - YOUTH ROWING PROGRAMME

LEARN TO CYCLE

  • Who: Children and Teens with Disabilities
  • Aimed to assist children and teens to learn to cycle independently
  • Duration: 6 Week Programme
  • Location: Holy Cross School, Mahon

WHEELS FOR ALL

  • As part of the Sport Inclusion Programme, Cork Sports Partnership have handcycles available for rental.
  • Handcycles are powered by the arms and support people with reduced mobility to enjoy cycling. See details HERE
  • If you are interested in trying out a handcycle, please contact Sports Inclusion Disability Officer Sinead Kelly skelly@corksports.ie

KAYAKING

ANGLING

  • Delivered in partnership with Irish Angling Council of Ireland 
  • Duration: 6 weeks
  • To express your interest email: jkirby@corksports.ie or tburke@corksports.ie

ORIENTEERING

  • Group Fun Orienteering Events and Training throughout the year
  • Email jkirby@corksports.ie or tburke@corksports.ie to express your interest

YOGA

  • Delivered in partnership with Alchemy School of Yoga and Headway
  • Who: People with a Brain Injury   
  • Duration: 12 week programme delivered one session per week 

  • Delivered in partnership with Himalaya Yoga Valley and Down Syndrome Cork Field of Dreams
  • Who: Adults with Intellectual disabilities 
  • Duration: 6 week programme delivered one session per week

BMX Cycling

4 Week Introductory programme for youth groups
Email jkirby@corksports.ie or tburke@corksports.ie to express your interest

This Urban Outdoor Initiative also aims to empower and enable staff in disability services and youth settings in Cork. Cork Sports Partnership are delighted to welcome participants to complete the following Training and Education Opportunities

  • Walk Leader Training
  • Sports Inclusion and Disability Awareness
  • Autism In Sport
  • Get Autism Active
  • Ready To Go Orienteering
  • Leave No Trace

For more information on any of the above, please visit out Bookings section or please contact Sports Inclusion Disability Officer, Sinead Kelly, skelly@corksports.ie

Sports Development Officer, James Kirby jkirby@corksports.ie

Community Sports Development Officer, Tim Burke tburke@corksports.ie

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