Vision Sports Ireland’s 41st MayFest will take place bigger and better than ever this year with support from Aviva Ireland having been selected as the Aviva Broker Community Fund Charity winner for Diversity and Inclusion.
MayFest is packed with ‘come-and-try’ opportunities, competitions and demo sports events for people who are blind and vision impaired, and their family and friends. This year, MayFest will take place in Dublin on the 21st and 22nd of May 2022.
“Vision Sports Ireland are delighted to be supported by Aviva Broker Community Fund for the 41st Annual MayFest,” said Pádraig Healy, National Sports Development Manager of Vision Sports Ireland.
“After a two-year break from in-person events, we are very excited to host a wide range of activities for people with a vision impairment to come and enjoy at this year’s festival of sport.”
“The UCD Sports Complex will be a hive of activity with sport for all ages and fitness levels to try. We are working closely with our NGB partners to have a full programme of activities and invite families from across the country to come and enjoy a weekend of fun and sport.”
Previously known as ‘The Irish Games’, MayFest has continued to grow year on year since 1981. MayFest 2022 will include a number of old favourites including swimming, athletics and blind/VI tennis, as well as new sports including VI rugby and nature mindfulness.
According to the 2016 census, there are 54,810 people who are vision-impaired or blind, and of these, just 15 per cent participate in sport – approximately one-third of the national average.
Vision Sports’ MayFest aims to provide the opportunity for both new and existing members to try out new sports and encourage everyone to engage in a healthy lifestyle.
“We were deeply humbled to hear about and see the amazing work that our winning charities and community organisations are involved in, and the positive impacts that they have on peoples’ lives,” said Brian O’Neill, Head of Communications, Sustainability, Brand and Sponsorship at Aviva Ireland.
“This year we introduced two new special award categories for the first time in recognition of organisations that are making a difference under the themes of Climate Action and Diversity and Inclusion, both of which align with our ambitions as an organisation.”
“We were delighted to announce Vision Sports Ireland, nominated by Barry Ennis from Eppione Brokers, as the first Diversity and Inclusion winner. We want to ensure that our CSR programme continues to support the communities in which we operate, where our people work, and where our customers live.”
Now in its fourth year, the Aviva Broker Community Fund, increased its total fund by €20,000 to €120,000 last year to donate to worthwhile projects completed by charities and community organisations.
The Diversity and Inclusion Award is worth €10,000 to Vision Sports Ireland.
In total there were thirty-two individual donations including one charity donation of €20,000 to the best submission, plus four runner-up donations of €5,000 to the shortlisted charities, three local community organisation donations of €10,000 to the best submissions, plus two donations of €5,000 to those shortlisted community organisations.
Two donations of €10,000 each, to two projects that aligned with the themes of diversity and inclusion and climate action. €1,000 was donated to 20 charities and community organisations drawn from the list of those entries not shortlisted.
