Press Release

Photo Opportunity

Tuesday, 23 June 2009

The ‘Champions Boccia League’
Community Activity Programme will be launched
On Wednesday the 24th June
At 1.00pm
In The Community Schools Sports Hall, Central Drive, Creggan

Welcome to the launch of Champions Boccia League! This is an exciting new programme aimed at older adults and those people suffering from mental and physical disabilities. The champions Boccia league is designed to help promote mobility and movement amongst those involved whilst providing the opportunity to socialise and meet likeminded people all of whom have one thing on their mind …to be the champions of Boccia!

The Champions league has been developed jointly by the Old Library Trust Healthy Living Centre and Derry City Council and is being headed up by George McGowan, Physical Activity Officer, Old Library Trust and Thomas McCallion, Triax Community Sports Officer, Derry City Council.

The idea for The Boccia league emerged from the successful work that has been delivered through a range of activities catering for those in most need within the community. The OLT and DCC teamed up to design a project that would be attractive to older adults and those with mental and physical disabilities in order to keep them physical mobile, mentally active as well as providing the opportunity to socialise with other likeminded people.

Boccia itself is an all inclusive activity and caters for a wealth of different people and once mastered to some extent can become competitive in nature which should lead to an interesting event on the day.

Welcoming the new programme, the Mayor, Cllr Paul Fleming said:

“It is great that Council is working alongside the Old Library Trust to develop this unique approach to engaging older adults and those with mental and physical disabilities. This project will also go some way in supporting the excellent work undertaken by the local community, voluntary groups and Healthy Living Centres already making a major contribution to improving the well being of people living in the Creggan, Bogside and Brandywell areas.

Seeing this activity in operation in many venues we know that this has the potential to be a successful event and look forward to the possibility of new entries over the coming months,”

Mr George Mc Gowan, Old Library Trust, Healthy Living Centre, said “I would like to congratulate Derry City Council for seizing this opportunity to work with us to develop an activity programme that meets the needs of older adults and those with physical and mental disabilities. The project is a fine example of partnership working between Derry City Council and the Old Library Trust and we look forward to many new opportunities to work together to improve the quality of life for people of all ages living in the Creggan, Bogside and Brandywell areas.”

Ends

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