THE Health Service Executive (HSE) Community Games is to get an integration development officer following €35,000 funding announced yesterday.
Established in 1967, the community games comprises a network of local voluntary groups that run sports activities for children. The groups then compete against each other annually. Almost half a million children take part every year.
When appointed, the integration officer will work with people from immigrant communities to help them run activities in new areas. They will also help existing groups to involve people from the new communities.
Announcing the funding, Minister for Integration John Curran said the organisation did invaluable work in providing opportunities for young people to develop in a healthy and safe environment.
“It has huge potential to facilitate the integration of children of immigrant background in Irish society and also their parents for whom there are opportunities to volunteer in organising the community games,” he said.
The organisation’s chief executive Fiachra O’Mathúna said: “This funding will help us to introduce, involve and integrate new people from immigrant backgrounds and new communities into the activity and family of the HSE Community Games,” he said.
“We will work to engage people as volunteers and participants and encourage them, whether young or old, to try something new while making new friends.”
