Happy Christmas from Westmeath Sports Partnership!

2023 was another exceptional year for Westmeath Sports Partnership, with hundreds of people taking part in our programmes and classes in the last year.

We are very proud to have supported courses and communities, sports clubs, organisations and voluntary bodies in sports and recreation activities and it is also a huge honour for us to help assist clubs and groups in providing training such as Safeguarding and first-aid.

This year has marked a significant step forward for the Sports Partnership, with more events than ever catering for young and old, and a greater focus on diversity and inclusion.

We want to pay a special tribute to the dedication of club volunteers and those who we have engaged with this year, without whom very few sporting or recreation opportunities would be possible.

We also thank our partners in the many, many, National Governing Bodies, and we look forward to growing and fostering even further the strong working relationships we enjoy with development officers in this region.

Throughout 2023, we have enjoyed fantastic engagement and participation across community initiatives with a number of new programmes debuting in 2023, including mountain biking, fishing and special activities for members of the Ukrainian community.

Some of our highlights included over 600 people engaging in outdoors sports activities, over 240 people engaging in a total of 16 older adults programmes; over 200 people completing Safeguarding and dozens of people enjoying sport for all programmes across soccer, tennis and kayaking.

We also would like to thank local schools, community centres and organisations who have allowed us the use of their facilities, and for assisting in running many courses and events so smoothly.

We also would like to pay tribute to our own staff without whom none of this would be possible. There is a significant challenge of work required to bring programmes from planning to fruition and we want to say a huge thanks to every staff member, including our very hard working Community Sports Development Officer, Martina; Sports Inclusion Development Officer, Mary Kate and Outdoors Recreation Officer, Cian.

Equally as important to our success this year were our Coordinator Anthony Wheat, Administrator David and Communications Officer Kevin.

Our tutors are central to everything we do, and whilst we cannot name them all, we want to wish you a happy and peaceful Christmas, and hope you enjoy a much deserved rest. We look forward to working with you again in 2024.

Finally, we would also pay special thanks to Sport Ireland, for their continued support of the work of Westmeath Sports Partnership and their commitment to making sport accessible for everyone.

Westmeath County Council and its staff are also a huge support and asset to our work and we are especially grateful for their assistance.

As we look ahead to 2024, we want to assure the public that we remain committed to providing as many sport and recreation opportunities to the people of Co. Westmeath as possible. We will continue to innovate and lead sporting activities for diverse and marginalised groups and continue to be a force for positive change in the county.

Thank you to everyone who made 2023 such a success and we look forward to working with everyone to make 2024 a sporting success.

Happy Christmas and best wishes for the New Year!

Westmeath Sports Partnership Team.