HER Outdoors Week: 14th -20th August 2023
Athletics Ireland is delighted to be celebrating HER Outdoors Week which will take place from the 14th -20th August 2023.
HER Outdoors week aims to celebrate and encourage more females to get out and enjoy the benefits of being in the outdoors while bringing visibility to the opportunities for females to get involved in outdoor to the opportunities for females to get involved in outdoor physical activity which may include walking, jogging and running (as per Sport Ireland’s Policy on Sport and Physical Activity in the Outdoors, recognised sports).
In conjunction with Sport Ireland and HER Outdoors week, Athletics Ireland will launch the availability of the Her Outdoors Club Grant Scheme, following on from the major success in 2022
In 2022, 230 women and girls participated in the wide variety of club organised events and activities which included Come and Try Trail Running/Walking in Mountain areas, Outdoor Pilates classes, SheSummits Adventures, Fit4Life, and Teenage Girls Park Run & Trail Run and more!
Clubs highlighted that the majority of those attended were involved in their clubs but more females from the community who were non club members decided to take to the hills and trails also. Clubs who received the grants revealed it was a fantastic opportunity to escape to the outdoors and try something new, that there are so many incredible outdoor activities on offer within their local communities. These clubs emphasised that they were delighted to have variety in their training and take on a new challenge, exploring the outdoors!
As a way of encouraging and motivating females to engage in opportunities, Athletics Ireland is reaching out to affiliated Athletics Ireland Clubs and affiliated groups to encourage them to apply for a grant that will fund initiatives aimed at creating opportunities for more females to engage in outdoor activity during Her Outdoors Week.
Applications will be considered up to a maximum €200, and there will be a total of ten grants awarded to clubs. Please note that applications are being sought in a competitive bid process.
The grant can only be applied for by affiliated clubs and groups only.
Clubs and groups are asked to submit an application via the following link and demonstrate how their club application ties in with HER Outdoors week, and specifically aligns to the Find Your Outdoors philosophy.
To apply, please click https://form.jotform.com/231512180217343
For further information, please contact Lilly-Ann O’Hora, Women in Sport Manager at lillyannohora@athleticsireland.ie or Director of Participation rachelormrod@athleticsireland.ie
The closing date for completed application forms is 5pm on Friday 21st of July 2023
HER OUTDOORS CLUB GRANT SCHEME - APPLICATION
Applications for funding will need to specifically focus on creating more opportunities for females to engage in outdoor Recreational, Trail and Mountain Running.
Clubs must target females, with a specific focus on females with a disability, females from diverse ethnic groups, older females, teenage girls or females from disadvantaged areas.
KEY CRITERIA
Applications are encouraged from AAI clubs that:
- have the potential to increase levels and frequency of participation in outdoor activity in the local area.
- can act as showcases or successful demonstration events and which can be replicated by other clubs in the future.
- have the potential to develop into a sustainable, longer-term programme.
- are developing initiatives in or servicing designated disadvantaged areas.
- are developing initiatives for minority populations or groups with special needs.
- are developing initiatives beginning the week of HER Outdoors and, specifically aligns to the Find Your Outdoors philosophy.
In particular, the funding is aimed at:
• assisting local clubs to enhance existing opportunities for their local communities to become involved in outdoor Recreational, Trail and Mountain Running.
• assisting local clubs to initiate new programmes or events geared at involving women outdoor activities
Through this initiative, we hope that clubs will:
- Introduce outdoor Recreational, Trail and Mountain Running to new and existing members.
- Inspire more women to become physically active outdoors.
- Encourage non-members to participate.
- Create a sociable outdoors activity for members and non-members to do as a community.
- Create an inclusive outdoor activity for all to participate in.
- Support AAI clubs who offer women in sport activities outdoors.
- Encourage the education and training around outdoor physical activity leaders, leadership, coaching & mentoring
Club's Funding Stories