Toomevara GAA club has recently received the necessary training and have become involved with the Healthy Club Project which is directed on a national level by a project team attached to Croke Park which includes representatives from the GAA, HSE, National Office of Suicide Prevention and the Irish Sports Council. The Healthy Club Project aims to transform GAA Clubs into Health enhancing hubs for their communities. Toomevara GAA is delighted to become involved in this initiative with a view to making the club a healthier place for everyone to enjoy and to become recognised as a Healthy Club. The main aim of the Healthy Club Project is to make the GAA club a hub for health, capable of providing their members and communities with programmes that support their physical emotional and social wellbeing.
Steps to Becoming a Healthy Club
There is a seven step process undertaken to become an accredited Healthy Club.
- Appoint Healthy Club Officer and Team
- Receive Healthy Club Training
- Club Mapping
- Community Consultation
- Develop and Activate Action Plan
- Host Local Launch
- Report and Reflect
The 7 step process is based on best practice and has been refined following feedback from participating clubs in the pilot stages of the Healthy Club project (HCP). The process covers an 18-month period and based on clubs experience, recommends the ideal time points for each step. By following these steps a club will be best positioned to ensure the work they undertake is:
- Recognised at a national level
- Responding to identified need within the club/community
- Supported by the Club, Community and appropriate partners
- Sustainable and well-planned
- Achieving real impact (can be measured-useful when seeking funding)
- Positively impacting on club members and the community
- Reflecting best practice
The consensus from pilot clubs is to focus on these “small steps that can achieve lasting impact”
