Athletics Ireland McCabes Pharmacy Fit for Life Club Grant Scheme Logo

  • Athletics Ireland McCabes Pharmacy Fit for Life Grant Scheme

  • Introduction

  • In conjunction with Sport Ireland and the Dormant Accounts fund, Athletics Ireland (AI) is delighted to announce the availability of a McCabes Pharmacy Fit for Life Grant Scheme.

    As a way of encouraging and motivating people to engage in further participation opportunities, Athletics Ireland is reaching out to affiliated Athletics Ireland Clubs to encourage them to apply for a grant to fund Fit for Life programmes that are aimed at creating opportunities for people to engage in walking, jogging, and running.

    Participating clubs are asked to organise a Fit for Life programme for a minimum of one evening per week for a period of eight weeks.  All programmes must conclude on or before February 2026.

    Applications will be considered up to a maximum €350, and there will be a total of fifteen grants awarded to the successful clubs. Please note that applications are being sought in a competitive bid process and the grant will be paid out after the club has provided invoices to Athletics Ireland to demonstrate spend.

    Clubs are asked to apply and demonstrate how the club application ties into Dormant Accounts funding and specifically aligns to the criteria set out below.

    The closing date for completed application forms is the 3rd of October 2025.

  • Club Grant Scheme - Application

  • Applications for funding will need to specifically focus on creating more opportunities for people to engage in recreational walking, jogging, and running.

    Key Criteria

    Applications are encouraged from Athletics Ireland clubs that:

    • promote participation through a Fit for Life programme for new or novice participants to walk, jog or run from 0 to 5k over an 8-week period.
    • has the potential to increase levels and frequency of participation in recreational walking, jogging, and running in the local community.
    • has the potential to develop into a sustainable, longer-term participation in the club for those involved.

    Under Dormant Account Funding rules programmes will only be considered if targeted at engaging with one or more of the following participants:

    • The personal and social development of persons who are economically or socially disadvantaged*
    • Persons with a disability.

    *These groups include: Women and girls, People in Direct Provision centres, People displaced because of war in their country, Disadvantaged communities, Older Adults, LGBTI+ community, Members of Traveller or Roma communities, Ethnic Minorities, Asylum Seekers & Refugees etc.

    The funding can be used to support a wide range of costs that are for the specific purpose of the Fit for Life programme:

    • Equipment and facilities to increase participation in the programme.
    • Coach development and training supports (i.e., Coach Education course such as Athletics Leader, and Fit for Life Leader).
    • Resources and merchandise (i.e., high vis vests, etc.).
    • Marketing and promotion (i.e., flyers, posters, local signage, advertising, and paid promotion).

     Successful clubs, will be required to:

    • Use the Athletics Irelands online booking system for your Fit for Life programme.  Clubs will be permitted to charge up to €40 per participant. The takings from the programme will be for the host club.
    • Provide an update to Athletics Ireland on the success of the programme and the numbers participating.
    • Provide content for Athletics Ireland social channels to celebrate the programme and champion the work of your club.

     Athletics Ireland, will:

    • Provide the Fit for Life Leader with a Coaches Top. 
    • Provide each participant with a Fit for Life Buff.
    • Provide insurance cover for the programme, up to a maximum of 100 participants (Ratio is 1 Fit for Life leader/coach to 12 participants).
    • Create a Fit for Life event online specific to your club. All Fit for Life sign-ups should be made through the Athletics Irelands online booking system.
    • Invite awarded clubs to take part in PR piece with Athletics Ireland and McCabes Pharmacy.

  • Club Details

    Please provide as much detail as possible.

  • About your Fit for Life Programme

    Please provide further information on your proposed programme.

  • Declaration

  • On behalf of field. I, the undersigned, apply for a once-off
    grant for the purpose stated above and declare that the information given in this application is true and complete to the best of my knowledge. I acknowledge that any funds awarded must be used for the purpose stated and not to replace existing funding. I also understand that information supplied in or accompanying this application may be made available on request under the Freedom of Information Acts 1997 and 2003. I have read and fully understood the terms and conditions of the grant.

  • Clear
  • Clear

  • The closing date for completed application forms Friday, 3rd of October.

    For further information contact:  thomascarlile@athleticsireland.ie 

    N.B. Late applications will not be considered. It is the responsibility of grant applicants to ensure that grant forms are received on time with all details completed.

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