1. Case Study: dlr Leisure ServicesMonkstown “Supportthrough Sport”
dlr Leisure ServicesMonkstownhaslongheldareputationforprovidingawide range of quality
affordable leisureprogrammestothe communityinwhichitislocated.These programmeshave
beendesignedtoencompassall abilitiesanddisabilitiesandinclude Pool,Gymandoutdoor
sessions.
As of 2005 the average yearlyfootfall inthe centre wouldhave exceededover400,000 people per
yearat a growingrate each year.
Overthe yearsat variouspointsthe centre wouldhave become atargetlocationforAnti Social
behaviourinparticularwithGraffiti, Vandalismof facilities,robberiesandverbal abuse of Staff and
Customers.
A particularYouthgroup consistingof approximatelyfifteenteenagers fromthe Mountownareawas
highlightedasbeingresponsible for aspate of anti social behaviouroveraperiodof weeksinearly
2010. Thisgroup were targetedtobe the pilotgroupto workwithon the “SupportthroughSport”
programme.
To engage withthisgroupthe variousmembersof the WorkingCommittee stagedseveralmeetings
withthe individualsinneutral venuesincludingthe local primaryschool (HolyFamilyN.S.),The
MountownResource Centre andevenonthe wall the group“Hang Out” on.
The purpose of these initial meetingswastogo back to the beginningand tryestablishadialogue of
open,honestcommunicationwithbothpartiesandsettingthe seedforafuture relationshipthat
wouldbe basedonhonesty, buildingtrustbetweenthe parties, settingtargetsandobjectivesand
planningopportunitiesforthe groupto participate in.Myexperiencesfeltitwasvital the group
decidedwhattheywouldliketodoand worka timetable aroundtheirwishes.The meetingswere
well receivedandextremelypositive.
At thispointgaininguse of the Gym andAll weatherpitcheswere identifiedaspriorityandthiswas
setup to commence.ItstartedwitheachparticipantreceivingaFitnessAssessmentandhavingan
individualFitnessProgramme devisedforthemtofollow. Thisprogramme ranovera periodof
monthsand provedbeneficialtoall the participantsseveral of whomcontinue totrainregularly.
Aroundthistime a separate groupfromthe Loughlinstown/Ballybrackareawasalsoidentifiedfor
similarAnti Social issuesandfollowingmeetingsbetweenNiall Cull andColmPhilipsthe programme
was extendedtoinclude theseindividualsthroughallowingPool andGymaccess to both
MonkstownandLoughlinstownvenues.Asthiswasspreadovertwovenueseachparticipant
received10visitPasscards whichrecordedtheir usage and triggeredonvisit8 the individualto
contact Niall orColmto update.
The record will showthatat thispointover30 individualswere now underthe auspicesof “Support
throughSport” and thatit’sparticipantsinthe majoritywere benefitingfromthe experience and
alsodevelopingalevel of basicfitnesswhichshouldnotbe undervalued.
Discussionwiththe groupledtoa furtherincentive beingputinplace namelythe “BuildA Bike”
programme whichallowedthe participantslearnnew skills,gainresponsibilityandultimately

2. receive anewbike whichtheycouldbe proudof.The assistance receivedfromthe Working
Committee insourcingClassrooms,Storage space,Tutorswasinvaluable.
It isvital to highlightbythistime the anti social activitythatwashappeningaroundthe Monkstown
facilityatthe beginningof thisprojecthadceased.Alsoinrealitythe veryindividualsthatwere
responsible forthe anti social issueswere now actingasa bufferandencouragingyoungerchildren
to “not be messingaroundthe leisure centre”.
Overall Review:
ParticipationinSportandExercise haslongbeenrecognisedasa wayof breakingdownbarriersof
communicationandgivingindividualsaresponsible wayto develop.The conceptof the “Support
throughSport” programme hasembracedthisconceptand the evidence of the pilotprogramme has
proventhatprevalentintoday’ssocietyforanumberof reasonsthere isa large numberof youths
whoare cryingout for an identitywhere theyare wanted,respectedandcanfocus theirtime and
energy.ByengaginginExercise andplannedprogrammes anddevelopingbothphysicallyand
mentally asense of self achievementandrespecthasbeenignitedwithinthe participants.Thisin
turn educatesthemtoknowthe differencebetweenrightandwrong.
While itisfairto say the successof the programme iseasilyevidentitisimportanttostate that
alongthe way there have beenissuesthatinvolvedmembersof the WorkingCommittee meeting
withindividual youthstoresolveandthatgoingforwardthe successof the programme will depend
on give andtake on bothsides.
Each memberof the WorkingCommittee hastheirownKeystrengthsandreasonsforensuringthe
successof the programme andthe sum of these parts ensuredall angleswere coveredduringthe
scheme.
In particularthe time andeffortof membersof the Gardai andthe supporttheyhave giventothe
“supportthroughSport “ programme and alsoto the ManagementteaminMonkstownshouldbe
acknowledgedasthishasledto the Monkstownfacilityremainingclearof Anti Social activityfor
overtwelve months.
Goingforwardit ismy intentiontobringthisprogramme intofurtherareasof the countyand
alreadysmall stepshave beentakeninthe Meadowrook/Dundrumareas.
Niall Cull
dlr Leisure Services
July2012