Augher St Macartan's 'Builds Back Better'

Aim

Vital funds will support our Club to build back better from the Covid19 pandemic, allowing us to enhance programmes for young people locally

• How Covid-19 affected our club

During the pandemic our Club has suffered because of our inability to deliver any form of sporting activities locally because of the lock down restrictions. 

Our fundraising efforts have been curtailed during the pandemic which has meant that we have been unable to build back from the pandemic as we would have hoped to. 

We have lost many of our volunteers during the pandemic which has made it difficult to plan ahead in terms of putting plans in place to get the Club back up and running as we emerge from Covid19 now. Many of our current volunteers are burnt out because of efforts put in during the pandemic to "keep things going" and supporting those most in need. 

Our members have suffered because of the lack of sport and physical activity over the last 2 years of lockdown restrictions, and because of subsequent issues arising such as isolation, loneliness and mental health issues. 

• Club Background

Augher St Macartan's GAC was formed in 1957 and is a not-for-profit voluntary group. Our community facilities provides Gaelic Games coaching as well as overall health, wellbeing, fitness and social support to the Augher community and surrounding rural communities. 

Our community facilities organises, promotes and competes in Gaelic Games and other associated cross community activity for all, regardless of age, gender, background or ability within the Augher and outlying areas. 

The club aims to enhance community cohesion and community spirit and is driven by strong amateur and volunteer ethos. Through our community facilities we aim to improve the physical, mental and social wellbeing of all in our local community and build the confidence of all those in the local area to partake in sport, health, wellbeing and community activities. 

Our community facilities in Augher plays a vital role in the community and takes great pride in this.

• What our Project is About 

We are raising vital funds to help our Club build back better from the Covid19 pandemic. The last 2 years have been difficult for everyone in our community. Considering this, we want to ensure that we can deliver enhanced programmes and activities for those most affected by the pandemic. 

Our underage members in particular suffered during the pandemic because of isolation, not being able to meet their friends or take part in any sort of sport or training. 

Funding therefore will enable us to deliver improved programmes for our underage teams, purchase new equipment for our underage coaches and open up the Club more to enable more young people locally to come and try our sport and Club activities. 

• What our Crowdfunding will be used for & How it will benefit the club

Crowdfunding will be directly used to support local Children & young people in Augher and surrounding areas to build back better from the pandemic. 

Funding will be used to engage local children and young people who are new to sport and physical activity, as well as our members who are returning to sport or physical activity after a prolonged period of lockdown and isolation.

Crowdfunding will allow us to deliver an extensive 20 week youth health and wellbeing programme from our younger Club members. Your donation will directly support over 100 young people to get back involved in sport after a long time away.

We will deliver fun filled multi skill activities, GAA coaching as well as health and wellbeing activities such as walking, yoga and exploring the outdoors through our Club spaces such as our walking trail.

All young people will focus on the social aspects of the programme and include participants meeting new people and re-engaging with friends who they hadn't during the lockdown. 

Donations will be used to cover the costs of specialised coaches, programme specific equipment and programme facilitators.

The main benefits to our Club will be- 

Improved physical health for our members

Improved mental health and well-being for our members 

Reduce isolation for our members

Increase participation opportunities in sport for our members

This project successfully funded on 28th June 2023