Athlete's Support
This section of the website contains information on the support
services provided by Disability Sports NI to talented disabled sports people:
Ulster Sports Trust Sports Awards for People with Disabilities
The Ulster Sports Awards for People with Disabilities is an annual grants programme administered by Disability
Sports NI and funded by the Ulster Sports Trust.
The aim of the programme is to provide talented young sports people with disabilities with financial support towards
preparation, training and competition costs. To be eligible, applicants must be between the ages of 12 and 21
and competing at an international level or with distinction at British or Irish Championship.
Successful applications normally receive grants ranging between £100 and £500 but will not exceed 50% of total costs.
Two rounds of funding are offered each year. Applications are available from the DSNI and should be completed and
returned to the DSNI office by the following date:
Friday 4th November 05
If you think you eligible for an Ulster Sports Trust Award contact the Disability Sports NI office for an application form.
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Sports Council for Northern Ireland Lottery Fund Athlete Support Programme
The Athlete Support Programme has been designed by the Sports Council for Northern Ireland to provide talented athletes with the necessary
support required to enable them to perform successfully at an International level.
The programme provides two levels of funding:
Elite Level – for athletes who are already performing at an International level and are aiming to improve their ranking.
Performance Level – for athletes whom international success is a long term objective.
Both programmes offer funding towards training camps, attendance at competition, coaching,
competition and training and personal training costs.
Athletes who meet the funding criteria can normally submit an application through the recognised Governing Body for
their particular sport. However because of the current lack of disability expertise in most mainstream sports talented athletes
with a disability also have the option of submitting their application through Disability Sports NI.
Indeed most disabled athletes submit their application’s through Disability Sports NI, who currently have four athletes receiving funding
from the Athlete Support Programme with a further two awaiting confirmation.
Disability Sports NI will assist all potential athletes with the completion of the initial enquiry form and if successful will collate
the relevant information to complete their application form and performance plan.
Athletes who are successful will also be given supported with preparation of performance reports and quarterly finance claims.
There are three closing dates per year. Agreed dates for 2005 are:
25/02/05
24/06/05
28/10/05
It should be noted that from the submission of the enquiry form to the confirmation of an award usually takes 4 – 5 months.
If you think you may be eligible for a grant from the Athlete Support Programme contact the Disability Sports NI office now.
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Disability Sports NI Swimming Development Squad
The DSNI swimming development squad was set up in 2001 to provide talented young disabled swimmers with the opportunity to get involved in
competitive swimming and have access to regular elite coaching.
Swimmers are selected for the squad through their performance at the NI Swimming Championships for
People with Disabilities, held in November each year at the Lagan Valley LeisurePlex in Lisburn.
Swimmers who swim inside the UK Junior qualifying times at the event are invited to join the development squad.
The squad is aimed at competitive swimmers only, with all members expected to compete to at least a UK Junior
level and train within a mainstream club or equivalent. For the past three years DSNI have supported the squad’s
attendance at the UK National Junior Championships in Sheffield, where they have returned home each year with no less than eleven medals.
The current squad of seventeen is pan disability and made up of a Performance squad and Development squad who meet on a monthly basis
at Lagan Valley LeisurePlex, Lisburn where they receive expert tuition from coaches Andrew Reid and Sharon Wilson.
The squad currently includes a Paralympic swimmer, a UK Junior Record Holder as well as a number of swimmers who represent
Ireland and GB at an International Level.
Talented Squad Development
In time and resources allowing DSNI aims to establish ‘Development Squads’ in a number of other sports in partnership
with mainstream sports organisations. If you feel you could contribute to these plans please contact the Disability Sports NI office now.
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