Who are we?
Mid-Ulster Stronger Together (MUST) is a community non-profit voluntary led organisation aimed with providing health and wellbeing programmes and initiatives for all living in and around the wider Mid Ulster Area.
Our overall aim as a community voluntary organisation, is to offer education awareness programmes and health and wellbeing programmes that benefit the residents of Mid Ulster, including those in Cookstown, Kildress, Moneymore, and Magherafelt, without any discrimination based on age, gender, race, political, religious, or other opinions. For example, we recently secured funding to deliver our Irish Language Camp which we are excited by.
Our objective is to promote physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing by providing accessible initiatives for disadvantaged groups such as individuals with physical and mental ill health, low-income families, lone parent families, those with mobility issues or disabilities, older people, isolated youths, children, and individuals living alone.
Additionally, we strive to reduce social exclusion for these groups, enabling them to connect with others and raise awareness of support in their community through social events, group activities, or volunteer programmes, ensuring they are involved and Included. By doing so, we aim to enhance community engagement, address social and health inequalities, and foster a sense of belonging, leading to an improved quality of life for all within our wider Mid Ulster catchment. We aim to provide an inclusive and welcoming health and wellbeing community accommodating individuals of all ages and backgrounds. We strive to offer community education to MUST beneficiaries on how to lead healthy and active lifestyles and tackle mental health issues.
Our aim is to provide spaces and educational programmes where disadvantaged groups can engage in physical activities, learn, socialise, and connect with others. Additionally, we aim to provide training and volunteering opportunities to our disadvantaged beneficiaries, allowing them to participate actively in community life.
Since our formation in March 2021, we have already seen the positive impact we're making on the health and well-being (physical, mental, and emotional) of our community, especially for the disadvantaged groups we aim to assist in our broader Mid-Ulster area. These groups include individuals with physical and mental ill health, low-income families, lone parent families, those with mobility issues or disabilities, older people, isolated youths, children, and individuals living alone. Nevertheless, due to limited capacity, we find it challenging to accommodate all the people we aim to serve, particularly those impacted by the cost-of-living crisis, and those struggling financially as a result, i.e., low-income families.
Our committee and volunteers have experience in addressing community needs to enhance health and wellbeing in the wider Mid-Ulster region. Our team includes a Health and Wellbeing Programme Practitioner and a Social Worker, both based locally. Moreover, during our inception, several of our beneficiaries generously offered to volunteer to help us develop and deliver programmes, while increasing their own education, including, and involving our disadvantaged groups. Example initiatives we have delivered since our establishment include our “SureStart” parenting workshops, supporting parents and children to foster positive relationships, providing educational seminars on behavioural management and adult response; nutritional awareness, making healthier food choices for young people; and health and wellbeing classes including yoga and meditation for isolated residents, promoting social connections.
Why are we crowdfunding?
We’re crowdfunding to launch a new 16 week multi-sports programme aimed at older adults aged 65+ in our Cookstown community and surrounding rural areas, and for a new youth programme using sport to help young people with ADHD and behaviourial issues. This is a new programme never delivered before!
With the rising cost of living, many older people face barriers to staying active and socially connected. Our project will provide accessible, enjoyable sports sessions designed to improve physical health, mental well-being, and social connections for this vulnerable groups.
Activites will include:
- Gentle stretching, chair-based exercises, and balance training.
- Walking Football,
- Tai Chi and Breathing Exercises,
- Dance and Movement,
- Badminton and tennis for Beginners,
- Multi-Skill Sports Drills,
- Team-Building and Fun Games,
- Boxercise,
- Creative Sports (e.g., Parkour Basics)
However, to make this a reality, we need your help securing the necessary equipment, facility rental, and qualified coaching / facilitators. By raising £5,000 through this Crowdfunder, we can unlock an additional £5,000 in match funding from Sport NI, enabling us to make a real difference.
How we’ll spend the money raised
The money raised will be used to:
Purchase age-appropriate sports equipment.
Cover facility rental costs for 16 weekly sessions.
Hire qualified coaches experienced in working with older adults and young people with ADHD and behaviourial issues.
Promote the programme to ensure maximum community participation.
Every pound you contribute will go directly toward creating a supportive, active environment for older adults and to help young people with ADHD and behaviourial issues in our community.
Community impact
Our project goes beyond just physical activity. By providing regular sports sessions for older adults, we aim to reduce isolation, improve mental health, and strengthen community ties in Cookstown. This initiative will create a safe, welcoming space where older people can come together over 16-weeks, stay active, and build friendships. The positive impact will ripple through the community, improving the quality of life for participants and their families alike.
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!