Outline
Sport structures provided short term support to Cycling Ireland in preparation for a Women in Sport funding bid to Sport Ireland in April 2019. Women in Sport is central to the work of Sport Ireland. Since 2005 the Sport Ireland Women in Sport Programme has funded a wide range of initiatives delivered by NGBs and LSPs to further the agenda of gender equality in sport. Sport Ireland has now renewed its commitment to Women in Sport through the development of a Women in Sport Policy. This Policy will serve as a guide for Sport Ireland’s future work and investment in the area.
Approach
We were tasked with providing strategic support in the delivery of a funding bid for the total sum of £260,000. Sport Ireland identified four areas as current gaps and future opportunities for women in sport across Ireland. We worked with the senior management team to set out the strategic objectives around this area in order to develop a strong funding application. We looked to address all four areas. These four areas are as follows: Coaching & Officiating, Active Participation, Visibility, Leadership & Governance. We came up with the programme: ‘Bike like me’. It comes at a transformational point in their journey as an NGB and will really project the sport to the next level. It was developed to be insight led, participant centric offering equal opportunities to women and girls of all ages enabling them to fulfil their own potential, creating a lifelong involvement in cycling. It will ensure that there are more female cyclists, cycling more often on their own terms. It will aim to transition inactive groups into the sport by providing access to a cycling activity that is right for them. This target activity will create a high-quality experience in multiple environments. In turn, establishing strong, sustainable partnerships to establish cycling as the ‘go to’ activity for women and girls in Ireland.
Outcome
The Cycling Ireland funding bid was successfully submitted and Cycling Ireland said ‘We feel we have submitted something truly compelling, it has been such a pleasure to work with the sport structures team – cant wait to get started on the delivery’.