Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council are developing a new five year Aquatics Framework for the Borough for 2019 – 2024. The Framework will focus on working together with key stakeholders to develop the area of aquatics, which includes all aspects of swimming pool related activities and outdoor swimming.
As part of this consultation process we are seeking the opinions of as many members of the public as possible whether you currently participate in council run swimming activities or not.
We are particular keen to hear from groups of people that are currently under-represented in sport and physical activity including females, people with a disability, those on low income and those from rural areas with the purpose of finding out what would encourage them to participate.
We will be undertaking a short online survey from Monday 22nd October to Sunday 11th November which can be found on the council website at www.armaghbanbridgecraigavon.citizenspace.com/health-and-recreation/aquatics-framework/. The survey will only take a couple of minutes to complete and the findings will help the council develop the Framework and improve aquatic provision for all across the Borough.
For further information please contact Gillian Dewart, Sports Development Officer on T: 028 4066 0605
Big congratulations to everyone who participated in Sunday’s 10 Mile and 4 Mile Road Race.
The results are in for the Armagh 10 Mile and 4 mile road race!
Find the results and times for the race below:
10 Mile and 4 Mile results!
Please see information about a new programme to be held at People’s Park Portadown.
We are offering 20 FREE places for boys and girls aged between 5-8 who do not play for any club at present.
This four week programme will offer coaching plus free equipment at the conclusion of the four weeks. Please note we can only offer 20 FREE places and registration will be on a first come first serve basis. Kids will also receive a FREE Messi football, activity book and a set of four cones.
To request an application/registration form please contact the IFA Regional Grassroots Development Officer Ken Duncan using the email ken.duncan@irishfa.com.
Dates are as follows – Thursday 18th, 25th October and 8th, 15th November from 4.00pm to 5.00pm.
This Halloween, prepare for a scare as Portadown People’s Park will once again be transformed into a spine-chillingly creepy setting with their annual Spooktacular event on Tuesday 30th October.
Promising to be ghastly, ghostly and gruesome as well as a lot of fun, make sure you get your hands on some tickets and don’t miss out!
Tickets will go on sale on Monday 8th October at 7pm and will be available by logging on to www.getactiveabc.com. Tickets must be purchased for all ages and cost £3 per person or £10 for five tickets.
The Spooktacular tours will begin every five minutes with the first starting at 5pm and the last leaving at 8.15pm. Each tour will last for approximately 45 minutes. The mystical tour guide will take you around the illuminated park to interact with some frightfully friendly characters! Be part of the story and help Walter the Wizard, brave Vikings and naughty gnomes find the missing dragon’s egg and restore the magic of Halloween!
Don’t forget your spooky costume but also make sure to wrap up warm and wear your wellies as you adventure through the creepy park and hear spine-tingling tales of all the weird and wonderful characters!
Children can also enjoy free craft workshops, face painting and balloon modelling on the night. And if you need to warm up your bones during the evening, hot drinks and ghoulish snacks will be on sale!
This event can only be attended by ticket holders so make sure you don’t miss out on this adventure to remember! Tours are suitable for children aged four and above. Demand is always high for this event so be ready to log on when the clock strikes 7pm on Monday 8th October! We look forward to seeing you there!
National Fitness Day encourages the nation to celebrate the fun of fitness & physical activity across the UK. To celebrate National Fitness Day on Wednesday 26th September 10.00am – 8.00pm come along to any of our leisure centres for FREE. Join us for fun and games including:
- Gym taster sessions
- Fitness & Nutritional advice
- Health checks
- Fitness Class taster sessions
- Fun gym challenges
- Racquet sessions – squash/badminton/tennis
- Inflatable sessions
- Free prize draw and so much more!
For more information or for a programme regarding the activities taking place, please contact each centre directly
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council will be holding two public meetings in the Brownlow area of Craigavon this fortnight as it forges ahead with implementing its play strategy and delivering its ambitious programme of improving outdoor play provision for all children across the borough.
With a public meeting organised in the Moyraverty and Tullygally areas, residents in each locality are encouraged to engage with the council and play an active role in bringing exciting play development proposals to fruition.
The Moyraverty play park meeting will be held on Thursday 20 September at 7pm in Drumgor Detached Youth Centre (formerly Moyraverty Community Centre), followed by the Tullygally play park meeting on Thursday 27 September at 7pm in Tullygally Youth Centre.
These public meetings present a unique opportunity for members of the local community to share their views on site preference, design and layout of the play park along with choice of play equipment.
The council is committed to ensuring its extensive portfolio of play parks are maintained to the highest standards, developed to meet local need and well designed to provide quality play experiences for children in all parts of the borough.
This Autumn, young swimmers across the Borough will benefit from a fresh new getactiveabc Swim School programme thanks to a partnership with the STA (Swimming Teachers’ Association).
The new getactiveabc Swim School will be operate at the Orchard Leisure Centre, Banbridge Leisure Centre, Craigavon Leisure Centre, Waves Leisure Complex and Cascades Leisure Complex and aims to regenerate the current swim programme.
With the introduction of the STA’s International Learn to Swim Programme (ILSP), young learners will be provided with a more exciting learn to swim programme that is supported with a range of badges and certificates.
Lord Mayor, Councillor Julie Flaherty attended the launch, she said staff have worked closely with the STA to ensure a smooth transition, “The partnership with STA is a fantastic opportunity, and we are very excited to offer a fresh and innovative swim programme incorporating advanced swimming and Junior Lifeguard courses, as well as increasing grass roots level classes including baby, pre-school and beginner sessions,”
The new programme will have very little impact on children currently in swimming lessons. The main area of change will be the names of the swimming lessons from Stanley right through to Shark. A Progression Chart will be clearly displayed throughout the sites. The change will embrace all areas of the swim programme, ensuring a standardised programme is delivered to learners.
Leanne Dougliss, STA’s Interim Sales and Marketing Director, added: “We are very happy to launch STA’s Swim programme with Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council. Swimming is a vital life skill that all children should be given the opportunity to learn. They have embraced this opportunity to enhance their swim scheme and we are delighted to be able to offer a current, cost-effective, quality programme that is appealing to learners of all ages and abilities. Together we can save lives through the teaching of swimming, first aid and lifesaving. I look forward to working more closely with the team to ensure their customers receive the highest quality lessons”
For further information on the getactiveabc Swim Academy, click here
School may be back but the fun doesn’t stop at Portadown Peoples Park as a new term of Sportz & Beatz Zone kicks off for a sensational new season of high energy fun for young people aged 12 to 17 years.
Starting on Friday 7 September from 6.00– 8.00pm and running for 8 weeks the FREE drop in sessions offer a variety of exciting activities including football and basketball. Participants can also get to grips with the latest djing techniques before having a go at mixing some tunes – or mash it up and try a mix of sportz and beatz!
There is something for everyone so come along have fun with friends, enjoy good music and exercise all at the same time.
The Sportz and Beatz Zone programme is organised by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council in association with Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Policing and Community Safety Partnership and the Department for Communities. For more information contact Portadown People’s Park on 028 3831 2597.
On Friday 24 August, Richhill Recreation Centre celebrated the last day of the 2018 Crazy Summer Scheme, the centre organised a Fun Day with Bouncy Castles, fun and games which was enjoyed by all, including the Lord Mayor Councillor Julie Flaherty.
The Summer Schemes took place in Tandragee, Keady and Richhill Recreation Centre from Monday 2 July until Friday 24 August and at the Orchard leisure Centre from Monday 30 July to Friday 17 August, all were a huge success.
The staff at Richhill Recreation Centre would like to thank all the children who took attended the scheme and hope to welcome them again at the Halloween Scheme.
Are you ready to change your life, are you ready for a new challenge. We are here to support you all the way. Interested! Then read on.
This 52 week programme has been designed for those who are ‘larger than life’ ie BMI 27+
Do you want to change your life, health and happiness. This unique approach to fitness combines several of councils very successful health programmes ie C25K, Sofa to Saddle etc. Under the support and supervision of fully qualified coaches and fitness instructors, this steadily progressive course is suitable for anyone who is committed to improving their health, while making new friends, learning new skills and enjoys the benefits of exercising outdoors.