Get Out Get Active welcomed in Northern Ireland
On Thursday 12 January, The Lord Mayor, Garath Keating will welcome an exciting new programme, Get Out Get Active (GOGA) into the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council Area. The Lough Neagh Discovery Centre will be a hive of activity as The Lord Mayor is joined by distinguished guests and representatives from Spirit of 2012 who have provided a £4.5 million investment stimulus through Get Out Get Active at eighteen locations across the UK including Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon as well as Derry City and Strabane District Council.
Kat Southwell, Get Out Get Active Programme Manager comments:
“Get out Get Active has the potential to change how we encourage, enable and engage more people through active recreation opportunities. For many of those we are trying to attract, these opportunities have been out of reach or unappealing. Changing people’s mind-sets is not an overnight solution and that’s why we’ve called upon so many partners across the UK to help make it happen. This launch marks the start of an exciting journey for all involved.”
Never one to shy away from getting actively involved, we anticipate The Lord Mayor will lead by example to demonstrate and encourage children and representatives from local primary schools, day care centres and the wider adult community to experience some of the Get Out Get Active opportunities supported by this initiative.
The funding will support local man Ryan McQuillan, Active Recreation Officer with Live Active NI, the Community Interest Company of Disability Sport NI to encourage and provide further opportunities for greater active participation through a range of all-inclusive activity sessions, further training for volunteers and sports providers and promoting and communicating opportunities across the Borough. The GOGA programme will encourage people of all abilities to enjoy active recreation together.
The Lord Mayor, Garath Keating has said:
“Get Out Get Active offers an exciting opportunity to positively encourage more children and adults towards a healthy and active lifestyle that will provide a whole range of benefits for physical and mental well- being”.
The launch event will be from 10.30 – 11.45am on Thursday 12 January 2017 in Lough Neagh Discovery Centre, Craigavon. Photograph opportunities will be available during and after the event.
