STUDENT EXPERIENCE: REACH Project – Tara Mannix.

TAFISA REACH Project – Reshaping Engagement, Advocacy, and Capacity Building for Youth in Sport for All.

The TAFISA REACH project is a 16-month initiative designed to empower young people to play an active role in shaping the future of Sport for All.

The project focuses on understanding the needs and expectations of young people aged 18–30 and creating opportunities for them to become more involved in Sport for All. Its key aims are to:

• Understand the needs and expectations of young people aged 18–30 in Sport for All.
• Create platforms that support youth-led and innovative programmes.
• Gather and analyse data on youth engagement to help shape future strategies and policies.
• Establish “Youth for Youth” mentorship programmes to encourage peer-to-peer learning.
• Empower young people and organisations through capacity-building initiatives.
• Develop a sustainable and replicable model for long-term youth engagement.

Tara’s REACH Experience

Tara is a PESS alumna who completed a BSc in Sport and Exercise Sciences. During her cooperative placement, she worked with Limerick Sports Partnership, and she is now working as a Community Sports Development Officer. Her experience in community sport and development made her an ideal fit for TAFISA’s REACH project. As one of 15 young people from around the world selected to take part, Tara had the opportunity to develop her leadership skills, gain international experience and contribute to initiatives that promote and drive Sport for All.

Throughout the project, Tara completed TAFISA’s Certified Leadership Certificate Levels 1 and 2, travelling to Poitiers, France, and Prague, Czechia, to participate in the training programmes. She also attended the 29th World Sport for All Conference in Prague, where she presented her community action project and moderated a number of sessions.

More recently, Tara attended the REACH project partners’ meeting in Tallinn, Estonia, where partners discussed the sustainability and future development of the project. As part of the visit, the group visited Tallinn’s City Government Department of Sport and Culture. Tallinn was the European City of Sport in 2025, providing an opportunity to learn more about the city’s approach to promoting sport and physical activity.

Bringing Sport for All to the Community

As part of her involvement in the project, Tara also worked alongside Chloe O’Dwyer to organise a Sport for All Expo at PESS. The event brought primary school children and their parents together to experience a range of sports in an accessible and welcoming environment. 6 National Governing Bodies (NGBs) took part, providing taster sessions and information on how participants could get involved in their respective sports. The event aimed to remove some of the barriers associated with starting a new sport by allowing children to try different activities without the pressure or commitment of immediately becoming a club member.

The Expo demonstrated how youth-led initiatives can create accessible opportunities for communities to engage with sport and discover activities they may not otherwise have had the chance to experience.

Reflecting on her experience, Tara said:

“The REACH project was a very worthwhile and engaging project to be part of. It taught me everything from effective leadership to how to plan, organise, deliver and evaluate a large-scale community action, as well as how to moderate a global webinar. I think it is a great opportunity to give young people a voice in decision-making and to learn more about community development.”

Through REACH, Tara has gained valuable leadership, organisational and community development experience while contributing to the wider goal of making Sport for All more accessible, inclusive and youth-led. You can read more about the REACH project here and various community actions here: Home | REACH