The Active Disability Services Awards have been developed to recognise and reward Disability Services throughout Ireland who have shown leadership and commitment to helping people with disabilities stay active and healthy.
Being physically active at any level is hugely important to our health and wellbeing especially for people with disabilities. Providing activities that encourage active and healthy lifestyles can greatly influence a persons mood, energy, happiness and overall wellbeing.
These awards aim to champion the innovative physical activity, health promotion and community inclusion initiatives that have arisen as a result of the Disability Service engaging with our ‘Active Healthy Me’ programme.
Active Healthy Me aims to empower people with disabilities to take control of their own health & wellbeing through an online education programme, facilitated by staff within Disability Days Services all across Ireland.
There are several different award categories:
- Initiative Categories
Best Physical Activity Initiative:
This award recognises the successful delivery of an outstanding initiative/project/event that encourages inclusive physical activity participation and active healthy lifestyles for service users. E.g. Walking/Wheelchair Push Challenge
Best Outdoor Activity Initiative
This award recognises the successful delivery of an outstanding outdoor activity initiative/project/event that encourages inclusive physical activity participation in the outdoors. E.g. Inclusive Kayaking.
Best Healthy Lifestyle Initiative
This award recognises an initiative/project/event with a focus on the education on the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle and that encourage healthy habit behaviour change for service users and staff members. E.g. Health Message Noticeboard.
Best Community Engagement Initiative
This award recognises an outstanding initiative/project/event that is delivered in collaboration between a Disability Service and other local stakeholders i.e. Local Sports Partnership,, sports club etc. It recognises the connection between the service and the community and the impact on enhancing opportunities for service users to be active and healthy. E.g. Multi-Sport Camp/ Sports Day.
- People Categories
Active Champion – Male
This award recognises an outstanding male service user who regularly participates in physical activity and inspires others to be active and lead healthy lifestyles.
Active Champion – Female
This award recognises an outstanding female service user who regularly participates in physical activity and inspires others to be active and lead healthy lifestyles.
Best Active Healthy Me Staff Leader
This award recognises an outstanding staff member for their commitment and effort when delivering the Active Healthy Me programme within their Disability Day Service.
Best Disability Organisation Senior Management
This award recognises a management team that shows leadership, innovation and commitment to enhancing the health and wellbeing of their service users. Healthy lifestyle choices are embedded into the culture of the organisation and is reflected in operational planning and policy making.
Friday February 9 is the closing date for entries and finalists will be announced in early March with the awards ceremony taking place in Portlaoise later that month.
The application form and further information on the categories is available here
You can find full terms and conditions available 