New National Swimming Strategy published by Minister Thomas Byrne
he Minister of State for Sport, Physical Education and the Gaeltacht, Thomas Byrne TD, has announced the publication of the first National Swimming Strategy. The publication of Ireland’s first National Swimming Strategy follows through from commitments made under both the National Sports Policy 2018-2027 and the Sports Action Plan 2021-2023.
Additional funding of up to €500,000 is being allocated by the Government, through Sport Ireland, to support Swim Ireland in hiring swimming activators to work within local authority areas and provide enhanced opportunities to swim with a key focus on providing improved facilities, better coaching supports, increased safety awareness and a pathway for the development of potential high performance athletes.
Deadline extended for Institute of Public Health 2024 How We Age photography competition
The Institute of Public Health (IPH) has extended the deadline for entries to the all-island photography competition by six weeks to coincide with International Day of Older Persons in October. The competition is free to enter, open to residents of Ireland and Northern Ireland over the age of 18, and is now open for entries until 1 October 2024.
Under this theme, entries are invited that reflect and include older adults engaged in:
- Working – all forms of work, part-time, full-time, paid and unpaid;
- Learning – engaged in lifelong learning, teaching or learning;
- Volunteering - contributing to society both formally and informally.
The competition is free to enter, open to residents of Ireland and Northern Ireland over the age of 18, and is open for entries until 16 August 2024. To find out more about the How We Age photography competition, please visit www.publichealth.ie/photo.
Making Every Contact Count
The Making Every Contact Count eLearning training programme certification has been modified. The eLearning now takes a total time of 3 hours (reduced from 4 hours) covering the six core modules;
· 2 x Health Behaviour Change; ‘Introduction to Behaviour Change’ and ‘Skills into Practice’
· 4 x Topic Modules on ‘Tobacco’, ‘Alcohol & Drugs’, ‘Healthy Eating’ and ‘Physical Activity’.
The two new modules on ‘Overweight & Obesity’ and ‘Mental Health & Wellbeing’ are available on completion of the core modules. Completion of the additional modules is encouraged and will now provide additional certification. Further information can be found here.