Sport Ireland Innovation Funding 2023
Liquid Therapy was a recipient of Sport Ireland’s Innovation funding in 2023. As part of the project Liquid Therapy worked with 59 young people in South Donegal, developed supporting project materials, training resources and developed a comprehensive evaluation framework for Liquid Therapy’s, ‘A Drop in the Ocean’ (ADITO) programme. The evaluation protocol was developed to explore key questions related to the impact associated with their unique intervention. A mixed methods approach was utilised to track changes through validated quantitative measures, but to also offer depth and nuance through a range of qualitative approaches. The project was delivered in collaboration with Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim Sports Partnership with support from the ‘Dormant Accounts Fund’.
The report was conducted by Blue Health Researchers Dr. Easkey Britton and Dr. Jamie Marshall.
INCLUSEA
Liquid Therapy were part of the INCLUSEA EU Erasmus+ sport project between 2020 and 2023. INCLUSEA aimed to evaluate, develop and co-create best practice guidance for a common teaching methodology of surfing instructors oriented to people with additional physical and/or sensory needs. This will help establish common European and international standards for those who lead adapted surfing teaching or surf therapy programmes. A best practice guide for surf instructors who work with individuals with physical and/or sensory disabilities was published through INCLUSEA in 2023. INCLUSEA was a European project which was co-financed by the Erasmus + Sport Programme. The INCLUSEA resources can be downloaded here.
NEAR Health project
Liquid Therapy was part of the Nature and Environment to Attain and Restore Health (NEAR Health) project. The project was jointly funded by the Environmental Protection Agency and Health Service Executive to investigate how nature and the environment can help society to attain and restore health. The NEAR Health project team combined environmental, health, social innovation and medical fields to build capacity and develop and transform knowledge for communities, policymakers and practitioners. This project investigated (1) how people value and experience nature, health and wellbeing, (2) the barriers and bridges to nature connection, (3) what people want from their healthy future environment and (4) nature- based activities to benefit people’s health and wellbeing. In doing so, the team collaborated with communities to co-create the outcomes of this research. The Near Heath Toolkit can be downloaded here.
