Council Aiming to Increase Sports and Physical Activity Participation

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is to pilot a new initiative aimed at encouraging people to get more involved in sport and physical activity across the district.

The project will focus on increasing participation amongst women and girls, children and young people, those with disabilities, people who live in rural communities and those facing the greatest barriers to being active.

A successful funding bid for £49,000 to help deliver the scheme, which will run from this October until March 2027, was made to Sport Northern Ireland’s Get Active 2026/27 financial support programme, funded by the Department for Communities and supported by the London Marathon Foundation.

Working with partners including Healthy Kidz, National Governing Bodies, schools, Health and Social Care Trusts and community organisations, the pilot will provide targeted participation opportunities and strengthen pathways into existing Council programmes, local sports clubs and community-based activity.

The key aim is to help more people move from introductory activity into regular, sustained participation, while also testing new partnership approaches and gathering evidence to inform future programme development. Council officers will develop Be Active Pathways following a review of existing physical activity provision.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Glyn Hanna said, “Initiatives designed to encourage people to remain active and participate in sport and physical activity to improve their health and wellbeing are crucial.

“By building on existing programmes and strengthening pathways into community sport, local clubs and Council-led activities, this scheme will help remove barriers to participation and create more opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to get involved.”

Cllr Hanna said a partnership approach paves the way to creating healthier, more active and more connected communities across Newry, Mourne and Down.