Aghaloo Community Centre New Sports Programmes

Aim: We are fundraising to deliver a new youth programme that creates new opportunities for young people in Aughnacloy this summer

Who are we?

The Aghaloo Community Centre is the home of Aghaloo & Blackwater Community Association (ABCA). Our charity is representative of all the various residents in the rural border Aughnacloy area. 

The main objectives of ABCA is to promote and develop Aughnacloy and the district as a thriving Rural Centre both economically and socially. As well as the promotion of the benefit of the inhabitants of the Aughnacloy Area and its environs of the wider parish and border regions without distinction of age, gender, sexual orientation, disability/ability, race, ethnic origin, political, religious or other opinion. 

ABCA links with statutory and local authorities, voluntary organisations and the wider community in a common effort to advance education and to provide provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation and leisure with the objective of improving the conditions of life for those in rural Aughnacloy here on the border with Monaghan. 

ABCA manage the local Community Centre and organise & deliver daily activities for wider community benefit in partnership with Aughnacloy Development Association. Such as community capacity building programmes, youth and elderly programmes, leisure programmes, educational initiatives and any other charitable purpose as required to the betterment of those living within our catchment.

Why are we crowdfunding?

We are fundraising to deliver an exciting new youth programme in Aughnacloy, County Tyrone, that will inspire local young people to get active, try new sports, and develop lifelong healthy habits. As a rural community, young people here often face barriers to accessing sport and physical activity. 

Our project will change that by offering a fun, inclusive 12 week multi-sport programme that gets young people moving, away from screens, and learning new skills in a supportive environment.

From Friday 27th June, each week we will deliver the following:

Provisional 12-Week Delivery Timeline (Spring/Summer 2025)

Week 1:

• Project launch and participant sign-up
• First multi-sport session (intro to movement & fun games)

Week 2:

• Multi-sport session (intro to movement & fun games) continued

Week 3:

• Soccer and GAA-focused session
• Volunteer coaching shadowing

Week 4:

• Table-Tennis & hand-eye coordination activities
• Leadership skills workshop

Week 5:

• Basketball session
• Circuits for beginners

Week 6:

• Yoga and mobility session
• Social event for families and volunteers
• Evaluating Sports Programmes Workshop

Week 7:

• Rugby and Cricket teamwork session
• Volunteers assist with planning upcoming sessions

Week 8:

• Table tennis and reaction skills session
• Committee Training Workshop

Week 9:

• Inclusive/adapted sports session

Week 10:

• Fun sports challenge event (skills stations)
• Multi Sport Foundation Coaching Awards

Week 11:

• Multi-sport team games and confidence-building session

Week 12:

• Celebration event and awards
• Volunteer reflection and future planning with the young people.

This initiative isn’t just about sport- it’s about building confidence, leadership, and stronger community ties within our border area. We also want to grow the next generation of local coaches and leaders by encouraging volunteers to get involved in coaching, youth leadership, and even join our Committee. This will help strengthen our Charity and ensure the programme has a lasting impact.

We’re working closely with other local community groups such as Aughnacloy Development Association to make this programme truly community-led and accessible to all young people in Aughnacloy, especially those who haven’t had many opportunities to take part in organised sport before.

Now is the perfect time to support us as every donation will be matched pound for pound by Sport NI, up to a maximum of £5,000. That means your contribution will go twice as far in helping us deliver this life-changing programme for young people in our rural area.

Our project is fully aligned with the objectives and eligibility criteria of the Creating Opportunities programme. As a registered charity based in rural Aughnacloy, our initiative aims to increase participation in sport and physical activity among young people who traditionally face barriers to access, particularly those not currently engaged in organised sport. The programme will be a new, additional activity that is not part of our regular operations.

By offering a multi-sport model and developing new volunteer-led coaching pathways, we are addressing Sport NI’s goal to “level the playing field” by reaching underrepresented groups and encouraging community leadership. Our project specifically targets rural young people, aligning with Sport NI’s focus on increasing access for target groups such as children and young people (especially aged 11–18) and those living in rural areas.

The project also supports Sport NI’s aim of helping the sector adopt new approaches, grow membership, and build future resilience by training local volunteers and leaders. It encourages collaborative community working and provides new and additional solutions to increase physical activity, meeting all required eligibility and programme objectives.

Please donate what you can and help us give local youth the chance to get active, grow in confidence, and discover their potential through multiple sports this summer. Thank you for supporting our Crowdfunder!

How we’ll spend the money raised

All funds raised will go towards delivering our project. Specifically as follows:

1. Coaching Costs – £3,600

• 2 coaches per session × £30/hour × 1.5 hours = £90 per session
• 20 sessions over spring & summer = £1,800 per coach

2. Volunteer Training & Development – £1,400

6 new volunteers attending:

• Leadership skills workshop= £250
• Evaluating Sports Programmes= £350
• Committee Training= £250
• Multi Sport Foundation Coaching Award= £550

3. Equipment – £4,000

• Multi-sport equipment pack (football, rugby, basketball, tennis) – £1,200. Includes 8 balls/rackets per sport, cones, pumps, and carry bags
• Inclusive/adaptive equipment (foam balls, soft bats, sensory balls) – £1,000
• Pop-up goals and target nets (suitable for indoor/outdoor use) – £700
• Agility & coordination kit (ladders, hurdles, markers, reaction balls) – £500
• Table tennis starter bundle (2 foldaway tables, bats, balls, nets) – £400
• Storage and transport containers – £200

4. Marketing & Promotion – £1,000

• Design & print flyers/posters = £300
• Local newspaper/social media ad spend = £400
• Photographer/videographer for project video & campaign materials = £300

Community impact

Our charity and Community Centre here in Aughnacloy plays a vital role in supporting the health and wellbeing of the wider Aughnacloy community. Through our Community Centre we create a welcoming, inclusive space where people of all ages can connect, volunteer, and grow. Our programmes support young people, parents, and older residents through daily events, social gatherings, and wellbeing initiatives.

Our facilities are used for community meetings, educational workshops, and family-friendly events that bring people together and reduce rural isolation across our border community. We collaborate with the 3 local schools in Aughnacloy, Aughnacloy Development Association as mentioned, and many voluntary organisations across Aughnacloy to ensure our impact reaches as many people as possible (and ensure our Community Centre is open and accessible to all).

By developing this new youth multi-sport programme this summer (that includes volunteer upskilling opportunities) we’re not just encouraging physical activity but we’re also building a stronger, more connected border community, fostering local leadership, and providing meaningful opportunities for people to play an active role in community life here in Aughnacloy.

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!

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 5th August 2025 at 11:05am