To: Chairman of Leinster Badminton

Subject: Request for Evening Access, Earlier Opening, and Fair Participation Opportunities for Children

We, the undersigned residents, parents, and community members, respectfully request improvements to access at the Whitehall Road badminton courts so that children and young players in the area can benefit from safe, fair, and structured sporting opportunities.

Badminton is an inclusive, healthy, and accessible sport for children of all ages. However, the current scheduling and access arrangements make it difficult for many school-aged children to use the courts. As most children are only available after school hours, the lack of evening access effectively prevents many young people from participating in the sport.

We respectfully request the following practical and reasonable improvements:

1. Dedicated Evening Slots for Children Allocate specific evening time slots reserved for children and junior players so they can practice and develop their skills in a safe and supportive environment.

2. Evening Access Until at Least 8:00 PM Ensure that the courts remain accessible until at least 8:00 PM, allowing school-going children to participate after school hours.

3. Access for Families and Supervised Junior Play in the Evenings Allow children to play in the evenings through supervised sessions, family sessions, or junior club hours.

4. Earlier Opening in the Mornings Open the courts earlier in the morning so that children and families who wish to play before school or work have the opportunity to do so.

Many badminton clubs across Leinster already allow children to participate in evening sessions or provide dedicated junior time slots. If other clubs in the region successfully accommodate young players during the evenings, it is reasonable for the Whitehall Road badminton courts to offer similar opportunities for children in this community.

Ensuring fair access for children is also consistent with several Irish legal and policy frameworks:

Equal Status Acts 2000–2018 These Acts prohibit discrimination in the provision of goods, services, and access to facilities available to the public. Policies that indirectly exclude particular groups from accessing public or community facilities may raise equality concerns if reasonable accommodation is not provided.

National Sports Policy 2018–2027 (Government of Ireland) This policy emphasises increasing participation in sport among children and young people and encourages better access to community sports facilities.

Sport Ireland Participation and Inclusion Policies These policies encourage sports clubs and facilities to actively remove barriers that limit youth participation in sport.

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (ratified by Ireland) Article 31 recognises the right of children to rest, leisure, play, and participation in recreational activities appropriate to their age.

Where a community sports facility restricts access for children during the only realistic time available to them after school, this may unintentionally create barriers to participation that are inconsistent with the national policy objective of promoting youth sport and equal access to recreational facilities.

In addition, if the facility receives public funding or grants, there is a strong expectation that it should operate in a manner that supports community participation, transparency, and equal access.

These proposed changes would:

• Promote physical activity and healthier lifestyles for children 

• Encourage youth participation in sport and community engagement 

• Support families who wish to stay active together 

• Ensure fair and inclusive use of community sports facilities 

• Align the facility with practices already followed by other clubs in Leinster

We respectfully request that the management review the current access policy and provide a written response outlining how evening access for children and earlier opening hours can be reasonably accommodated.

We hope that this matter can be resolved collaboratively and constructively. However, if necessary, the community may seek clarification through available public processes such as Freedom of Information requests, engagement with the local authority regarding the use of public land or public funding, and consultation with relevant equality bodies to ensure that access policies are fair, reasonable, and inclusive for young people

We would also respectfully request that the management provide a written explanation and justification for the current restrictions on children’s access to the badminton courts during evening hours, including the reasoning behind the policy, when it was introduced, and whether any equality, participation, or community impact assessment was conducted before implementing such restrictions.

Providing this clarification will help the community better understand the basis for the current policy and ensure that the facility’s access arrangements are consistent with principles of fairness, transparency, and inclusive participation in community sport.

Our community values inclusive sports opportunities for young people, and we believe these adjustments would make a meaningful and positive difference for many families.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely, Residents, Parents, and Supporters of Youth Sport in the Community