Gerard McAnulty has been employed as a Physical Activities Coach in partnership with South Eastern Trust since August 2010. In September 2011, Paula Guzzanti joined us as a part-time coach and was made full-time in April 2012. There are a total of 12 coaches across Newry and Down funded by Sport NI through the Active Communities Programme with the overall consortia being managed by the two District Councils.
The purpose of the Active Communities programme is to make physical activity available to a wider audience and provide opportunities for life long participation in physical activity. Our coaches aim to increase participation in physical activity among older people, women and people with a disability by delivering activities in community settings through links with our member groups and other community and voluntary organisations.
550 people per quarter have participated in Boccia, armchair aerobics, summer and Easter schemes and other multi-activity programmes resulting in major benefits to their physical and mental well-being through improved mobility and socialisation with their peers. These participants were drawn from girls groups, young people, Women’s groups, Older people, Men’s groups and Disability services.
Big Dance Pledge: 32 young people with disabilities from Mount View Social group took part of the Big Dance 2012, by participating in the Guinness World Record Attempt of more people dancing at the same time in the UK.
2 successful after school dance programmes for Spa and Drumaness Primary School, with approximate 60 children benefitting of the programme.
Killyleagh Friendship club completed a 10 weeks chair based exercise programme, with volunteers becoming interested in taking a chair based exercise training to lead the group.
Selection of groups worked with;
Schools:
Drumlins Primary School
Clough Primary School
Legamaddy Primary School
Drumaness Primary School
Knockevin School
Community Groups:
Newcastle
Castlewellan
Clough
Ballynahinch
Saintfield
Crossgar
Loughinisland
Teconnaught
Downpatrick
Ardglass
Strangford
Annsborough
Youth Service:
Patrician Youth Centre
Summer Scheme:
Annsborough
Saul
Dundrum
Special Needs Groups:
Greenhill YMCA Outside activity programme
Knockevin Physical activity programme
Scott Hall Multi Skills Group
East Down Gaels GAA Programme
Events:
Alzheimers society
Age N.I Glebe House Cross Community Day (Various Men’s Groups)
Girl Guides
Schools Martial Arts Anti Bullying Programme
Abbey field
Big Dance (Guinness Book of record Attempt)
Boccia Tournament for adults with visual impairment
Shimna Diversity day
Abbeyfield
AGEenda day (Intergenerational) activity programme Abbeyfield & Knockevin.
Chest Heart & Stroke
East Down Gaels (Ulster Council Football day in Cookstown)
East Down Gaels (Gaelic day in Croke Park)