
Sport4Empowerment is a national programme led by Sport Ireland that uses sport and physical activity as
tools for social change. It targets individuals at risk of social exclusion and poverty—such as ethnic
minorities, youth at risk, persons with disabilities, and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The programme empowers participants through co-creation, ensuring that initiatives are developed with—not
just for—target groups, using a design thinking approach. The mission of Sport4Empowerment is: "To
develop and implement a people-first programme to improve lives, create meaningful opportunities and a
sense of belonging through sport and physical activity."
The programme is implemented across Ireland through a network of Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs), with
each ESF+ Social Innovation in Sport Officer designing initiatives that respond to local needs. These context specific projects feed into a national learning agenda. The programme is underpinned by four pillars of
success:
Increased participation in sport and physical activity
Enhanced education and training opportunities
Improved employment prospects
Greater social inclusion
A national structure supports the network of ESF+ Social Innovation in Sport Officers with regular peer-topeer
learning, innovation training, communications guidance, and a robust monitoring and evaluation
framework.
tools for social change. It targets individuals at risk of social exclusion and poverty—such as ethnic
minorities, youth at risk, persons with disabilities, and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The programme empowers participants through co-creation, ensuring that initiatives are developed with—not
just for—target groups, using a design thinking approach. The mission of Sport4Empowerment is: "To
develop and implement a people-first programme to improve lives, create meaningful opportunities and a
sense of belonging through sport and physical activity."
The programme is implemented across Ireland through a network of Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs), with
each ESF+ Social Innovation in Sport Officer designing initiatives that respond to local needs. These context specific projects feed into a national learning agenda. The programme is underpinned by four pillars of
success:
Increased participation in sport and physical activity
Enhanced education and training opportunities
Improved employment prospects
Greater social inclusion
A national structure supports the network of ESF+ Social Innovation in Sport Officers with regular peer-topeer
learning, innovation training, communications guidance, and a robust monitoring and evaluation
framework.
Case study details
- Lead organisation
- Countries
- Ireland
- Themes
- Active inclusion and employabilityIntegration of marginalised communitiesSocial integration of those at risk
- Target groups
- Individuals with disabilitiesMigrants and ethnic minoritiesIndividuals experiencing poverty or social exclusion
- Level of action
- National
- Source of funding
- Public - EUPublic - national
- Project start
- 2023
- Type of initiative
- Integrating disadvantaged groups
- Internet and social
- EU fund
- ESF/ESF+