Who are we?
Carrickmore Handball Club is located at Termon Road, Carrickmore, Co Tyrone, BT79 9JR. The club is located 12 miles from Omagh town and is situated on the Termon Road in the centre of the village. Our club facilities include 1 x 40x20 Court and 1 x One-Wall Court, a viewing gallery and car parking facilities.
We are currently in the process of a major capital development project, which will see new handball alley, car park and squash courts in Carrickmore. We are due to complete this early 2025, with phase 1 already nearing completion.
Our club was established in 1989 and caters for all age groups within our rural community, and we have 50+ members and 20 volunteers. Our handballing alley plays host to many juvenile and senior handballing matches throughout the year, and visitors attend from across the island of Ireland. Most notably, we host the highly prestigious Paddy Grogan (PG) Memorial which attracts a wide crowd from the community and further afield. Carrickmore Handball Club has been an integral part of our rural community since its inception in 1989.
The club’s facilities provide those able to avail of them physical and mental well-being, however, we do struggle to encourage girls into the sport of Handball, and which is often due to the rural and social isolation experienced by girls locally.
Many girls struggle to feel comfortable in attending sports such as Handball, but who would love to partake in the sport. There is no specific firls sporting initiatives currently in place, ultimately leading to a feeling of disconnection in sport.
Why are we crowdfunding?
We are Crowdfunding to deliver our new and innovative girls in handball programme, aimed at encouraging girls and women of all ages across the Carrickmore and wider Termon community to take up handball.
Many girls and women have struggled with sports involvement, increased social media use and image, and decreased physical activity because of a lack of structured programmes, leading to physical inactivity and mental health challenges.
Our new initaitve this winter is a targeted approach to re-engage girls and women across our rural communtiy, in the sport, fostering connections and physical activity.
Our handball participation project is designed specifically to address the barriers that have traditionally excluded certain groups—particularly girls and women—from participating in sport and playing an active role within our club. This project goes beyond our regular club activities by introducing new and innovative approaches to inclusivity and community engagement.
Historically, girls and women in our rural community have had fewer opportunities to engage in handball, leading to lower participation rates and a lack of representation within the club. This project specifically targets these underrepresented groups, with a focus on:
Girls and young women who have never participated in sports or who have been discouraged due to societal norms, lack of access, or confidence.
Older women, including mothers and grandmothers, who may feel disconnected from sports due to age, rural isolation, or the impact of isolation.
By creating a welcoming and supportive environment, we aim to break down these barriers and encourage active participation at all levels.
This project introduces several new initiatives that are additional to our regular club activities:
Introduction to Handball Programmes: Tailored specifically for girls and women who are new to the sport, these sessions focus on building basic skills in a fun, non-competitive environment. The goal is to foster a love for the game and encourage long-term participation.
Volunteer and Coach Development Programme: We are launching a new initiative to train female coaches and volunteers from within the community. This programme will provide them with the necessary skills and certifications to lead sessions, organise events, and take on leadership roles within the club. This not only increases female representation but also ensures the sustainability of our efforts.
Mentorship and Leadership Opportunities: By involving experienced females and community leaders, we will create mentorship opportunities for younger participants. This will help build confidence and leadership skills, empowering them to take on active roles within the club and beyond.
This project will attract a new target group to the club, expanding our reach to include those who have previously felt excluded from sports activities. By focusing on inclusivity, we aim to create a more diverse and vibrant club environment where everyone feels welcome and valued.
Overall, our project is not just about increasing numbers; it's about fundamentally changing the culture of our club to be more inclusive and supportive of all members of our community. Through these new initiatives, we hope to create lasting change and open up new opportunities for girls and women in Carrickmore.
Crowdfunding will help us cover the costs of delivering our new girls handball programme over 12 weeks, from October 2024 to Jan 2025, including coaching, equipment, female kits, and marketing materials to promote the programme.
Your donations will also help us secure additional funding from Sport NI, as our programme specifically supports girls and women in socially isolated communities, promoting physical and mental wellbeing across rural Carrickmore and Termon.
How we’ll spend the money raised
If you make a pledge to our Crowdfunder page, all money raised will go directly towards delivering our girls in handball programme, which will be a completely new initiative in Carrickmore. For example, external coaches across the 12-week programme are dedicated to introducing and welcoming girls into the sport and slowly building confidence on the alley court within an appropriate environment.
Money raised will also go towards purchasing new sports equipment just for our girls teams, such as Handballs, Goggles and girls Kits to support our programme and mark the occasion.
Alongside this, money will be dedicated to promoting the new 12 week programme, through leaflets, social media posts and posters throughout the town.
Specific costs will be:
Coaching Costs x 2 coaches: £4,000 over 12 weeks, @ £25 per hour per coach, x 6 hours per week= £1,800 each, then £200 for planning, prep and evaluation of the project each.
Handball Equipment: £2,000: Purchasing Handballs & Goggles for 30 participants, and girls Kits for 30 girls. Multi Sport Packs.
Facility Hire: £2,000: Over 12 weeks, as our alley is currently under renovations, so we need to hire indoor facilities elsewhere, 6 hours per week.
Promotional Materials and Marketing: £500: Designing and printing flyers, posters, and banners to promote the programme. This also includes social media advertising and outreach to ensure we reach women and girls across the community.
Refreshments: £750 for 30+ participants over 12 weeks (£2 per person, per session).
Final Trip to Celebrate, to cover transport and entrance to the GAA museum in Dublin which includes handball sections: £750
Community impact
Our handball club goes beyond just promoting handball; we serve as a vital hub for the entire Carrickmore community. While our primary focus of this Crowdfunding is on encouraging girls and women to participate in handball, our facilities and programs benefit everyone in the area. For example, last year we successfully crowdfunded to deliver an older and younger persons intergenerational sports programme, which was very well received.
Our handball club provides a safe, inclusive space where people of all ages can come together, stay active, and build lasting connections. As mentioned, we are in the process of developing a new alley.
Through our girls programme, which is new, we will be able to offer not just physical activity but also a sense of belonging and empowerment, helping them develop confidence and teamwork skills.
Our programs offer a way to stay physically active, combat social isolation, and connect across our rural community.
Beyond sports, we use our facilities for various community events, including social gatherings, educational workshops, and health and wellness programs. These activities are essential in a rural area like Carrickmore, where opportunities for social interaction and personal development can be limited.
By supporting our club, you're not just helping to promote handball; you're investing in the wellbeing of the entire community. Our programmes foster social cohesion, improve mental and physical health, and create opportunities for people of all ages to come together, learn from each other, and build a stronger, more connected community.
How you can play your part
There are four simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.
1. Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success!
2. Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.
3. Offer rewards. Get involved if you are a local business by donating things we can offer to our supporters. We will give you a shout out!
4. Fundraise for us. If you want to run your own fundraiser – maybe a sponsored activity or similar – use the 'contact project' button at the top of our page to let us know. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won’t need any bank details. Just a fun idea!