Active Disability Services Awards 2026
Save the date
Wednesday 24th June 2026
The Active Disability Services Awards is a national celebration recognising leadership, innovation, and commitment to inclusive physical activity and wellbeing across Disability Services in Ireland. The theme for 2026 is ‘Leading by Example’, with the awards set to take place on the 24th of June in Athlone Springs Hotel. The event is hosted by Active Disability Ireland and supported by the HSE and Sport Ireland,
The Awards celebrate and reward Disability Services throughout Ireland who challenge the norms and show leadership and commitment to helping people with disabilities stay active through engaging and innovative initiatives.
The awards aim to champion physical activity, health promotion and community inclusion initiatives that have arisen from engaging with our ‘Active Healthy Me’ programme. The programme drives forward Active Disability Ireland’s vision of ‘an Ireland where people with disabilities have equal opportunities to be active.’
- Date: Wednesday June the 24th
- Location: Athlone Springs hotel
- Time of event: 12:00 – 14:30 (registration & refreshments from 11:15am)
Active Disability Services Awards – Webinar Series
We’re launching a 4 part webinar series inviting back the previous winners to talk about their award-winning initiatives, share insights about the application process and host an open Q&A sessions.
The short webinar invites all involved in Day Services to join us for four insightful conversations, to get inspired by the award-winning projects and encourage applications for the 2026 Active Disability Services Awards.
The 30-minute online webinars will take place on the following dates:
- Best Physical Activity Award with @cumas_new_ross: Thursday February 5th, 12 – 12.30 pm
- Best Community Engagement Award with @st.michaelshouse: Thursday February 12th, 12 – 12.30 pm
- Best Healthy Lifestyle Initiative Award with @rehabgroup Kerry, Blennerville: Thursday February 19th, 12 – 12.30 pm
- Best Outdoor Initiative Award with @streetwiseboc: Thursday February 26th. 12 – 12.30 pm
Register today by clicking the link here: Register for webinars
For more information please email Natasha Kelly: nkelly@activedisability.ie
2026 People Categories
- Active Champion (Male): This award recognises an outstanding male service user who regularly participates in physical activity and inspires others to live a healthy lifestyle.
- Active Champion (Female): This award recognises an outstanding female service user who regularly participates in physical activity and inspires others to live a healthy lifestyle.
- Best Active Healthy Me Staff Leader: This award recognises an outstanding staff member for their commitment and effort when delivering the Active Healthy Me programme and encouraging physical activity and active healthy lifestyles for their service users during & after the programme.
- Best Disability Organisation Senior Management: This award recognises a management team that shows leadership, innovation and commitment to enhancing the health and wellbeing of their service users. Healthy lifestyle choices are embedded into the culture of the organisation and are reflected in operational planning and policy making.
Save the Date
Further details, including the judging panel, MC, event programme and nominations will be announced in the coming months on our website and social media channels.
For now, we invite Disability Services to join our webinar series to learn more about the award categories, previous winners, the application process; and to put forward your award-worthy initiatives!
If you have any queries, please contact our Active Health Me Programme Lead, Natasha Kelly at nkelly@activedisability.ie
2023 Winners
Best Physical Activity Initiative: Cumas New Ross
Cumas New Ross offers a range of activities including collaborations with Dunbrody Warriors Tag Rugby, Strollers walking group, yoga with the performing arts group Integrate which featured on Operation Transformation), and also the revamped Celtic Warriors football team, which has strengthened community intergration links with New Ross Celtic, other inclusive teams, as well as the FAI through organised blitzes. Cuman New Ross have also partnered with Table Tennis, where they have 22 participants attending two weekly sessions.
Best Outdoor Initiative: Streetwise Brothers’ of Charity Services Ireland
Streetwise Hikers was established in September 2023 in response to learners’ growing interest in outdoor activity, supported by their involvement in Active Disability Ireland’s Active Healthy Me Programme and the annual summer programme. The group consists of five learners and two staff members who meets weekly on Fridays. Since its launch, the group had completed 18 hikes covering 100 km (March 2025) with overwhelmingly positive feedback. Hiking will remain part of the programme, with recent investment in hiking poles to support higher-elevation walks.
Best Healthy Lifestyle Initiative: RehabCare Kerry – Blennerville
The nutrition programme at RehabCare Blennerville Day Service is delivered in partnership with Kerry ETB. Each week, service users develop cooking skills to prepare nutritious, easy-to-make meals while learning about vitamins, minerals, and the importance of balanced home-cooked food. The programme also encourages participants to try and cook new dishes they may not have experienced before.
Best Community Engagement: St. Michael’s House
The Community Sport & Physical Activity Manager develops inclusive physical activity opportunities for adults and children across centres, leisure facilities, and local communities. Here they work closely with frontline staff and community sports facilitators to deliver a wide range of activities tailored to service users’ needs. This includes soccer, multi-sports, bowling, dementia-focused motor and memory activities, chair aerobics, gym programmes for adults with autism, and golf. They have built a strong partnerships with LSPs, NGBs, sports clubs, gyms, and volunteers to increase participation and support accessible sport.
Through their role they advocate for people with disabilities on the Active Cities Steering Committee and the DLR Sports Forum, and mentors adults with intellectual disabilities into sport and leisure employment. The Sport & Leisure Department also collaborates with clinical teams on health and wellbeing initiatives and delivered a wide range of activities during European Week of Sport with support from Dublin LSPs.
