Westport Leisure Park

Wins Another National Award

ILAM -  The Industry Body for Sports, Fitness, Aquatic Facilities, Outdoor, Spas & Wellness, have announced that 102 leisure facilities throughout Ireland have been awarded the quality seal of approval and were  presented with the prestigious 2008 White Flag Award.  The 2008 White Flag Awards, the only comprehensive Quality Award for Leisure Facilities in Ireland, were presented by Eamonn Quigley, ILAM President, FAI Technical Director Packie Bonner and RTE's Michael Lyster at a gala awards ceremony on Thurdsay 16^th. October in The Hilton Hotel, Limerick.

The White Flag Award, which is now in its eighth year, is designed for sports halls, fitness studios, health suites, spas, gyms, and swimming pools and was developed by ILAM - Leading Leisure in Ireland for sports, fitness, aquatic facilities, outdoor, spas & wellness.

The White Flag Award is a Quality award with key criteria classified under a number headings including facility interior, exterior & grounds; staff training and qualifications, disability access and provision, swimming pool hygiene; operations; environmental management; water quality and treatment and education information. Each leisure facility must have safe and easy access, qualified and trained staff, good health & safety procedures, follow industry codes of practice, are also imperative for the White Flag. By following White Flag criteria, making some necessary changes, a leisure facility can reach a very high standard, offering the best possible service, without resorting to major structural changes.

There are over 100 public sector and 500 private sector facilities throughout Ireland and yet only 17% will have attained a White Flag Award for 2008/2009. The White Flag 'Quality’ Award recognises high standards of excellence in health and leisure facilities and is endorsed by Failte Ireland and the Irish Hotels Federation. It is also a mandatory requirement for Health Spas seeking funding from Failte Ireland.

Kilian Fisher, Chief Executive of ILAM commented:  “The White Flag Award has become an essential mark of quality within the health and leisure industry. A leisure facility can reach a very high standard, offering the best possible service, without resorting to major structural changes.  The White Flag Award ensures key criteria are maintained and that high standards are met."

Leisure Park Wins The Disability Provision Category.

The Disability Provision Category and Training Ethos Award was also presented on the night to Westport Leisure Park.   This category was introduced in 2005 in partnership with The Irish Wheelchair Association. A Disability Access audit is conducted on each short listed facility (four facilities in 2008). Nominees in the category were Dublin City University, The National Aquatic Centre, Dublin, Leisureland, Galway and Westport Leisure Park.

Mr. Mark Barry, of The Irish Wheelchair Association, speaking at the awards ceremony said “ if any centres  need to know what they should do to improve their access, should look no further than facilities like Westport Leisure Park – they are setting the standards!”   

Speaking after the presentation, Mr. Dermott Langan, General Manager at Westport Leisure Park paid tribute to the staff at the facility “the team here at Westport Leisure Park work very hard in making the facility accessible for all – in particular Access Officer Barry Robinson, has invested a lot of time into training the staff in meeting the challenges to ensure the facility is welcoming to people of all abilities.” Mr. Langan also acknowledged the tremendous support the facility receives from Mayo County Council and Westport Town Council in the upgrading of facilities for people with disabilities. “This our second major national award for Disability Provision – just last December The National Disability Authority presented us with The Excellence through Access Award. This was a real first, as we are the only leisure centre in the country to be audited and be awarded with this distinction.”

Westport Leisure Park has met the challenges in the provision of inclusive facilities over the past eighteen months  - these include, Swimming Pool Hoist, Dual-use Gym Equipment, Spacious Disabled Changing Rooms, Improved bi-lingual signage with Braille throughout the building. A hearing-aid loop is installed at reception and auditorium and there is also a mobile loop available for meeting rooms, Brochure and information is available in various formats including large print and Braille. An on-going disability training programme  for staff is also in place with a number of staff attending sign language courses. Many all-inclusive programmes are held at Westport Leisure Park with users   coming from many of the local agencies/organisations – Western Care, Mayo M.S. Society, Enable Ireland, Special Olympics etc.

While acknowledging the great success in winning their 8^th White Flag and Disability awards Mr. Langan continued  “We have come a long way in the improvement of accessibility, but it’s not finished yet, we’re on a journey to continually improve. We are endeavoring to meet the requirements of people of all abilities who would like to use leisure and sports facilities.”