Augher St Macartan’s: All-Stars

Aim

To launch a new All-Stars programme, giving children and young people with disabilities the opportunity to enjoy Gaelic games in Augher.

Who are we?

Augher St Macartan’s GAC is a voluntary, not-for-profit GAA club based in rural Augher, Co. Tyrone. We were formed in 1957 and have been part of our local community for almost 70 years.

We provide Gaelic Games for children, young people and adults, with underage, reserve and senior teams. Our club is run by local volunteers who give their time to coaching, organising activities and keeping the club going.

Our facilities are also used by the wider community throughout the year for meetings, workshops, fundraising events and community activities, including by our local Men’s and Hen’s Shed.

We want our club to be a place where everyone has the chance to get involved, regardless of age, background or ability. Our next step is to start our new All-Stars programme, giving children and young people with disabilities in Augher and the surrounding rural area the opportunity to take part in Gaelic Games.

Why are we crowdfunding?

We are crowdfunding to launch Augher St Macartan’s: All-Stars, a new 12-week inclusive Gaelic Games programme for 20 children and young people with disabilities aged 6–15 from Augher and the surrounding rural area.

We want children and young people with disabilities to have the opportunity to get active, enjoy Gaelic Games, build confidence, make friends and feel part of their local GAA club. As a small rural club, we know there can be fewer opportunities locally for children with disabilities to take part in sport in an environment that is designed around their needs. We want to create that opportunity here in Augher.

How will the programme work?

The programme will run for 12 weeks at Augher St Macartan’s facilities, with sessions taking place 2 days each week.

Our 20 participants will be split into 2 groups of approximately 10, based on age, ability and individual support needs. Keeping the groups small will allow our coaches and volunteers to provide more individual support and adapt activities to suit the children taking part.

Each group will receive a 1-hour All-Stars session on both delivery days each week. Over the 12 weeks, this will provide 24 sessions for each group and 48 group sessions in total. Each participant will have the opportunity to complete 24 hours of inclusive physical activity, providing up to 480 participant activity hours across the programme.

All sessions will be led by 2 qualified coaches, supported by our club volunteers. On each delivery day, the coaches will also have 30 minutes before the sessions for session preparation and equipment set-up. This will provide 120 paid coaching hours across the programme.

We will promote the programme through local families, schools, community organisations and our existing club networks to reach children and young people with disabilities across Augher and the surrounding rural communities.

Our 12-week All-Stars programme

Weeks 1–3 – Getting started

The first three weeks will focus on helping participants become comfortable with the coaches, volunteers, facilities and equipment. Sessions will introduce fun movement, balance and coordination activities alongside simple throwing and catching games. This will also give our coaches time to understand each participant’s abilities, interests and support needs.

Weeks 4–6 – Developing Gaelic Games skills

Participants will begin learning adapted Gaelic Games skills including kicking, catching and handpassing. We will use small activity stations and different types of equipment so activities can be made easier or more challenging depending on each participant. Movement, balance and coordination will continue to be included throughout the sessions.

Weeks 7–9 – Playing together

Participants will start combining their skills through paired activities, small-group challenges and simple adapted Gaelic Games. Coaches will be able to change the equipment, playing area, rules and pace of activities so everyone has the opportunity to participate. These sessions will also encourage communication, taking turns, teamwork and confidence.

Weeks 10–12 – Building confidence and celebrating progress

The final three weeks will bring together the skills developed throughout the programme through fun team challenges, adapted games and participants’ favourite activities. The final week will include an All-Stars celebration session, giving participants the chance to recognise what they have achieved and families the opportunity to come along and be part of the programme.

Throughout all 12 weeks, our focus will be on participation, enjoyment and individual progress rather than competition. We understand that every participant will have different abilities and support needs, so activities will be flexible and adapted to allow each child to take part in a way that works for them.

Making our sessions accessible

Our £7,700 project budget will allow us to provide the coaching, equipment and volunteer support needed to deliver All-Stars properly.

We will purchase soft and foam footballs, soft-touch training balls, sensory and tactile balls, audible balls and beanbags. We will also purchase agility poles, ladders, soft hurdles, floor markers and balance cushions to help with movement and coordination activities.

Activity parachutes and soft-play equipment will give us more options for inclusive group activities. We will also create a quiet and sensory space using blackout sensory tents, weighted lap pads, visual timers and tactile, visual and calming resources. This will provide a quieter option for participants who need some time away from the main activity before returning when they are ready.

Each of our 20 participants will also have an individual All-Stars activity/passport folder and visual communication resources to help them follow activities and recognise their progress.

Building our All-Stars volunteer team

We want All-Stars to continue beyond the initial 12 weeks.

Alongside our 2 qualified coaches, we will train and develop 10 local volunteers in All-Stars coaching, disability and neuro-inclusion, safeguarding and inclusive coaching. Our volunteers will work alongside and under the direction of the qualified coaches throughout the programme, supporting participants while gaining practical experience themselves.

The adapted equipment purchased through the project will remain at Augher St Macartan’s after the 12 weeks. Combined with our newly trained volunteers, this will give us the people and equipment needed to continue developing All-Stars in the future.

How we’ll spend the money raised

We are aiming to raise £7,700 to launch and deliver our new Augher St Macartan’s All-Stars programme for 20 children and young people with disabilities.

The programme will run for 12 weeks, with participants split into 2 groups of 10. Each group will take part in 2 one-hour All-Stars sessions per week, giving each group 24 sessions over the programme and 48 group sessions in total.

Funding will allow us to bring in qualified coaches, train our own volunteers and purchase adapted and sensory equipment that can continue to support our All-Stars after the initial programme.

Qualified All-Stars coaching – £3,600

• 20 participants split into 2 groups of 10
• 2 qualified coaches supporting both groups
• Each group receives 2 × 1-hour sessions per week for 12 weeks
• 24 sessions per group / 48 group sessions in total
• Each delivery day includes 2 hours coaching + 30 minutes preparation and set-up
• 2 coaches × 2.5 hours × 2 days per week × 12 weeks = 120 paid coaching hours
• 120 hours @ £30 per hour = £3,600

Adapted Gaelic Games and ball equipment – £640

• 12 soft/foam footballs @ £10 = £120
• 12 soft-touch training balls @ £8 = £96
• 4 sensory/tactile ball packs @ £25 = £100
• 6 audible/bell balls @ £30 = £180
• 24 beanbags @ £6 = £144

Movement and coordination equipment – £680

• 4 sets of 8 agility poles @ £30 = £120
• 4 agility ladder sets @ £35 = £140
• 4 sets of soft training hurdles @ £50 = £200
• 4 sets of coloured floor markers @ £10 = £40
• 12 balance cushions @ £15 = £180

Inclusive group activity equipment – £600

• 2 large activity parachutes @ £75 = £150
• 2 soft-play movement and coordination sets @ £175 = £350
• 2 sensory/fidget resource sets @ £50 = £100

Quiet and sensory space – £600

• 2 blackout sensory tents @ £90 = £180
• 4 wipe-clean weighted lap pads @ £45 = £180
• 4 visual timers @ £20 = £80
• Tactile, visual and calming sensory regulation resources = £160

Volunteer and coach development – £800

• Training and development for 10 All-Stars volunteers = £800
• Training will support All-Stars coach education, disability/neuro-inclusion, safeguarding and inclusive coaching development
• Trained volunteers will support our 2 qualified coaches during delivery and help us continue the programme in the future

All-Stars participant and communication resources – £400

• 20 individual All-Stars passports/activity folders @ £10 = £200
• 20 individual visual communication/activity packs @ £10 = £200

Safety and equipment storage – £280

• 2 sports first-aid kits @ £50 = £100
• 2 lockable equipment storage boxes @ £90 = £180

Programme recruitment and information – £100

• Printing and distributing All-Stars programme information to local families, schools and community organisations = £100

Total project cost: £7,700

The equipment purchased will remain with Augher St Macartan’s after the initial 12-week programme and will be available for future All-Stars activities.

Training 10 local volunteers will also help us build a team within the club who can support children with different needs and abilities, giving us the capacity to continue and grow All-Stars beyond the initial funded programme.

Community impact

Our All-Stars project will create a completely new opportunity for children and young people with disabilities to take part in Gaelic Games at Augher St Macartan’s.

We are a small voluntary club serving Augher and the surrounding rural communities. Our facilities are already used for much more than competitive Gaelic Games, with local groups and residents using the club for meetings, workshops, fundraising events and community activities throughout the year. We want All-Stars to build on that community role and make sure children and young people with disabilities and their families feel that our club is a place for them too.

Levelling the playing field

Sport NI’s Creating Opportunities programme is about making sport more accessible and inclusive and removing barriers that can prevent people from participating.

Our project directly targets one of Sport NI’s priority groups: people with disabilities. It will also support children and young people aged 6–15 and families living in Augher and the surrounding rural area.

Rather than expecting children to fit into our existing team structure, we are creating a programme specifically around their needs. Our 20 participants will be split into 2 smaller groups of approximately 10, allowing our coaches and volunteers to provide more individual support.

Activities, equipment, playing areas and the pace of sessions can all be changed depending on the needs and abilities of the children taking part. We will also provide visual communication resources and a quiet and sensory space for participants who need additional support during sessions.

We also want participation to be accessible to families, with the crowdfunding helping us provide the coaching, equipment and resources needed without placing the cost of establishing the programme on the families taking part.

Creating a new opportunity

All-Stars is new and additional activity for Augher St Macartan’s. It is not additional training for one of our existing teams and the funding will not be used to support our normal day-to-day club activity.

We are establishing a new inclusive section of the club for children and young people with disabilities who may not currently have a suitable pathway into our existing Gaelic Games activities.

Over 12 weeks, we will work with 20 participants aged 6–15, split into 2 groups of approximately 10. Each group will receive 2 one-hour sessions every week, providing 24 hours of activity for each participant and 48 group sessions in total.

By creating a dedicated programme with qualified coaches, smaller groups, trained volunteers and adapted equipment, we can provide an environment where participation and individual progress come before competition.

Building confidence and belonging

The impact of All-Stars will go beyond physical activity.

Through regular sessions, we want participants to develop their movement and Gaelic Games skills while also building confidence, making friends and becoming more comfortable within the club environment.

Families will have the opportunity to meet other local families through the programme and become more connected with Augher St Macartan’s. We hope this creates a stronger sense of belonging for the whole family rather than the programme simply being somewhere a child attends for an hour.

Our final All-Stars celebration will bring participants, families, coaches and volunteers together to recognise what the children have achieved over the 12 weeks.

Building capacity within our club

Creating an inclusive programme also means making sure we have people within the club who have the confidence and knowledge to support it.

We will train and develop 10 local volunteers in All-Stars coaching, disability and neuro-inclusion, safeguarding and inclusive coaching. They will work alongside our 2 qualified coaches throughout the 12 weeks, gaining practical experience supporting participants.

This will increase the number of people within Augher St Macartan’s who can support inclusive sport and help us create a volunteer base for future All-Stars activities.

Creating a lasting impact

We do not want All-Stars to finish when the initial 12 weeks end.

By the end of the project, we aim to have delivered 48 group sessions, provided 24 hours of activity for each of our 20 participants and trained and developed 10 local volunteers.

The adapted Gaelic Games, movement, sensory and communication equipment purchased through the project will remain at Augher St Macartan’s for future use.

This means the £7,700 raised will not simply pay for 12 weeks of activity. It will help us establish the equipment, experience and volunteer base needed to make inclusive Gaelic Games a lasting part of our club and create more opportunities for children and young people with disabilities in rural Augher.

How you can play your part

There are four simple ways you can help us reach our £7,700 target and get Augher St Macartan’s: All-Stars up and running.

1. Make a pledge. Every donation, big or small, will help us provide the coaching, adapted equipment and support needed to give 20 children and young people with disabilities the opportunity to take part.

2. Spread the word. Share our Crowdfunder with your family, friends and on social media. The more people we reach across Augher and the wider community, the more support we can build for All-Stars.

3. Offer a reward. If you are a local business, you can support us by donating a product, voucher or experience that we can offer as a reward to our supporters. We will also give your business a shout-out for supporting our campaign.

4. Fundraise for us. You can also organise your own fundraiser or sponsored activity in support of All-Stars. Use the ‘contact project’ button at the top of our page to get in touch and we can help you get involved.

Together, we can help make Gaelic Games more accessible and create a lasting All-Stars programme for children and young people with disabilities in our local community.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made