Disability sports group Cara’s new strategy and home

TOURISM and Sport Minister Brendan Griffin has officially launched disability sports organisation Cara’s new three-year strategy at the organisation’s new offices at the Kerry Sports Academy on the Institute of Technology, Tralee (ITT) campus.

Cara is a leading pan-disability sport organisation that provides a collaborative and partnership platform to increase sport and physical activity opportunities for people with disabilities across Ireland.

Cara’s strategy sets out four key goals: to provide strategic leadership and support; to represent the needs of people with disabilities; to enhance the quality of sport and physical activity opportunities and to build effective organisation capabilities.

Through the implementation of this strategy, Cara said it will continue to work with its partners, funders and stakeholders to enhance opportunities available to people with disabilities to experience the joy and benefits of participating in sport and physical activity throughout Ireland.

Chair of Cara Pat Flanagan said the strategy is the start of a new journey for the organisation.

“Most importantly, people with disabilities are placed at the heart of our work to ensure what we do is influenced by their needs, also ensuring their needs are shared with the wider sport and physical activity sector,” he said.

ITT President Oliver Murphy said the college “looks forward” to Cara taking residence in the €19 million sports academy.

“Cara, IT Tralee and the UNESCO Chair at the Institute, through a partnership approach, will continue to advance their respective agendas, both nationally and internationally, having a state-of-the-art physical infrastructure via the KSA to deliver on their individual and collaborative objectives,” said Mr Murphy.

Minister Griffin congratulated all involved in Cara.

“Everyone, no matter what their background or circumstances, should have the opportunity to engage in sport and physical activity at a level of their choosing. The publication of this strategy is welcome and timely as it clearly articulates how Cara will support the implementation of the National Sports Policy through an ambitious programme of work,” he said.

Photo by Domnick Walsh President of IT Tralee, Oliver Murphy; CEO of Cara, Niamh Daffy; Minister Brendan Griffin; and Director of Participation and Ethics Sport Ireland Dr Una May launching the Cara three-year strategy at the new IT Tralee Kerry Sports Academy.