Activity festival is the culmination of popular Girls Active programme
GETTING INVOLVED
THE Girls Active Activity Festival was held recently, with 162 teenage girls taking part in a series of events at Cleveragh Regional Park.
The festival, which took place on Thursday, April 18, was the celebration of the girls’ participation in the extracurricular ‘Girls Active’ programme in their schools.
The day itself began with a dance-based warm-up. Smaller groups then enjoyed taster sessions of a variety of disciplines, including rugby, pitch and putt, boxing, athletics, weightlifting, pound, dance, tennis and table tennis. A cool-down session for the entire group concluded the hectic day.
Representatives from national governing bodies helped deliver the day’s activities. The event organisers extended their thanks to Sligo County Council for allowing the event to be held at the fantastic facilities of Cleveragh Regional Park.
Kate Garvin, Community Sport Development Officer with Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership, said: “The festival was a great way for everyone to come together and celebrate their programme achievements. It was important to recognise the effort the groups have made throughout the year.”
Girls Active is a joint-programme between the Health Service Executive and Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership.
It is currently running in 10 secondary schools
THOSE who want further information on the Girls Active Programme should contact Kate Garvin, Community Sport Development Officer, Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership, at 071 9161511 or email kate@ sligosportandrecreation.ie. Alternatively, check the Sligo Sport and Recreation website www.sligosportandrecreation.ie.
and training centres throughout County Sligo including Mercy College, Ursuline College, Ballinode Community College, Sligo Grammar School, Grange Post Primary School, Colaiste Iascaigh, St Mary’s College (Ballisodare), Sligo Community Training Centre, Corran College and Colaiste Muire (Ballymote).
Girls Active aims to increase the number of teenage girls involved in long-term regular physical activity through the provision of non-competitive extra-curricular activities in schools, while developing more supportive environments.
The programme takes the emphasis off competition in sport, which can sometimes be off putting for girls, and places a greater emphasis on the social and health benefits of being physically active, while offering opportunities to try out different ways to get active such as involvement in yoga, dance and boxercise.
Each school and training centre has the support of a Girls Active co-ordinator. These teachers organise (on a volunteer capacity) afterschool and lunchtime activities, encouraging the girls to participate in the Girls Active programme on a weekly basis.