The healthy club initiative

Any club wishing to register for the healthy club initiative needs to contact Barney Herron before applying <barneyjoe59@gmail.com>

IRELAND LIGHTS UP

The GAA, in partnership with RTÉ’s Operation Transformation, is seeking to bring together communities across the 32 counties to enjoy healthy walks in the safe environs of their GAA club. In a bid to make exercise more accessible on the dark winter nights, ‘Ireland Lights Up’ will see participating clubs turn on their floodlights/lighting systems between 7pm-9pm each Monday for a six-week period (22nd January – 26th February, 2018). Over 72 clubs have already signed up to the initiative and any interested clubs can register to get involved by Friday, 12th January.

Information and details of the Expression of Interest submission process can be found HERE 

HEALTHY CLUBS PROJECT - PHASE 3 LAUNCH

The Healthy Club model, which is based on best national and international practice,  aims to embed a healthy philosophy into a club while integrating health into the day-to-day club activities in a sustainable way. It also aims to place the local GAA club at the heart of the community, making it a beacon for health in the locale.

For clubs not currently involved who would like to participate in phase 3 of the project, our Expressions of Interest applications open Jan 15th 2018 so keep an eye on our website  for the application form.  The application stage will be open for two weeks, closing on Friday Jan 26th 2018 at 5.00pm. 

If your club is intending to apply it is recommended to make contact with your County Health & Wellbeing Committee in advance to let them know. They can be reached using the generic email address chair.hwc.COUNTY@gaa.ie but ensure you change the COUNTY, for example chair.hwc.clare@gaa.ie

More info on our Areas of Work and how each of these pillars focus on and combine to aid clubs in fostering a 'whole club' Healthy Club approach, can be read HERE

CASTLEBLANEY FAUGHS HEALTHY CLUB & RTÉ NATIONWIDE

Castleblaney Faughs GAC participates in our Healthy Club project. On Wednesday 3rd January RTÉs Nationwide programme highlighted some of the great work the club are doing in engaging and re-engaging their community in physical activities. Watch the programme HERE

SPORTS GRANTS OF €300,000 TO GET OLDER PEOPLE MORE ACTIVE

Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Brendan Griffin TD, has announced that almost €300,000 in National Grant Scheme Funding has been awarded to clubs and groups  to support 30,000 older people in improving their health & wellbeing by becoming involved in sport and physical activity. The Grant Scheme is part of Age & Opportunity's, Go for Life programme, funded by Sport Ireland and delivered nationally with the support of Local Sports Partnerships and the HSE.  Read the press release HERE

REMEMBER

To organise a meeting with your county committee, review the new action plan and plot out how you will complete all your core actions in the next 12 months.

The seven steps to a successful committee in 2018 are; 

1. Continued development of your committee

2. Run Healthy Club Officer training

3. Support critical incident response

4. Support phase three of Healthy Clubs project

5. Grow number of safeTALK trained people in your county

6. Promote the Social Initiative

7. Promote new gambling awareness resources

IMPORTANT JANUARY DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

FINALLY - HEALTHY CLUB OFFICER TUTOR TRAINING DATE TBC - PLEASE CONTINUE TO DELIVER EXISTING TRAINING  - If any County Health & Wellbeing Committee or Tutor requires any resources for trainings or events, please contact Collette on collette.coady@gaa.ie or (01) 8192352