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  2. Family, home and community
  3. Leisure and recreation
  4. Outdoor recreation and sport

Sport and leisure

Taking part in a sport or leisure activity is a great way to meet new people, have fun and stay healthy. There are many activities out there and it’s easy to get started

COVID-19: guidance for the sports sector

Practical guidance has been prepared to help the sports sector manage a return to sport.  Details can be found via the following websites:

  • nidirect 
  • Sports Grounds Safety Authority 

Sports organisations and clubs should continue to monitor the nidirect and Sport NI websites for details of any financial support which may become available in the future.

Sports Sustainability Fund

The Sports Sustainability Fund, administered by SportNI, is open to help those clubs and governing bodies who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This fund will close for completed applications at 3.00pm on 11 January 2021. For more information visit the SportNI website.

Benefits of sports

Getting into sport can help you feel good about yourself. Whatever sport you choose, what matters is that you are out and about and having fun.

Taking part has many benefits for individuals and society. Regular physical activity:

  • helps reduce body fat
  • strengthens bones
  • improves coordination, balance and flexibility
  • boosts stamina and concentration
  • helps fight depression and anxiety

Sports and leisure activities

As there are so many sporting and leisure activities going on, it can be difficult to find out what exactly is on offer in your area. 

If you’re not sure where to start looking, you can check out your local council's website or search online for sports clubs or centres near you.

  • Local councils in Northern Ireland
  • Sport Northern Ireland
  • Disability Sports NI website
  • Outmoreni 

Sports' governing bodies

You can take part in a variety of sports, including team sports and individual sports.

There are many governing bodies for sport in Northern Ireland. These governing bodies are made up of member clubs. There may be a club for your chosen sport in your area.

For information and contact details, visit Sport Northern Ireland.

Youth clubs

Your region’s Education Authority (EA) or organisations like your local church may run youth clubs or drop-in centres for young people where they can catch up with friends and meet others.

You can also find out if the EA in your region runs any classes that you may be interested in. They may organise a whole range of activities, such as drama groups and sport classes.

  • Education Authority

Ideas for your spare time

From taking up a sport, learning a new skill, or finding out more about your local history, there's something for everyone.

  • Family history, heritage and museums
  • Arts Council of Northern Ireland
  • National Museums Northern Ireland
  • Everyday life and leisure
  • Volunteering

More useful links

  • Public transport
  • Sports and people with disabilities
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Outdoor recreation and sport

  • Angling
  • Coasts and beaches
  • Country parks
  • Football banning orders
  • Forests
  • Nature reserves
  • Parks and green spaces
  • Public rights of way
  • River Lagan
  • Spectator behaviour at sporting events
  • Sport and leisure
  • Stormont Estate
  • The Countryside Code
  • Waterways
  • Wildfowling
  • Wildlife reserves and designated landscapes

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What to do next

Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk 

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit.  Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Carer's Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912
Email 
dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Call 0800 587 2750 
Email 
customerservice.unit@communities-ni.gov.uk

Disability Living Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912 
Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Employment and Support Allowance

Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

Personal Independence Payment

Call 0800 587 0932

If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service.

For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service.

For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit.

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) section, then for queries about:

  • Restrictions or regulations — contact the Department of Health
  • Travel advice (including self-isolation) — contact the Department of Health
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the Department of Health or Public Health Agency

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani@accessni.gov.uk

Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme,  email HSSS.mail@economy-ni.gov.uk.

For queries about:

  • Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN
    contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
     
  • Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
    contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

 

For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service.

For queries or advice about rates, email LPSCustomerTeam@lpsni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about  60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.

If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly.  We don't have access to information about you.

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