Who are we?
We are Dorsey Emmets GFC. Formed in 2000, our Club provides opportunities through sport for local people within the rural border region of the Dorsey area. Currently we provide football and cultural activities to our members from Under 6 to Senior level with our home grounds based at Roxborough Road, Newry (approximately 12 miles from Newry City). Our community facilities include 1 full sized GAA Pitch, a walking trail, changing facilities and 1 meeting room.
Our main purpose, aims, and objectives has been to play a significant role in rural community-driven sport, leisure, culture, and wellbeing within our catchment across the wider community of Dorsey. We achieve this by providing a positive contribution through facilities, programmes, and initiatives for all in and around our surrounding rural catchments.
Why are we crowdfunding?
We are launching an exciting new girls’ GAA programme at Dorsey Emmets GFC, designed to offer a 12-week coaching programme which is complelty new. This programme will include sessions three evenings a week (1 hour each) and a 2-hour session every Saturday morning, providing a consistent, supportive environment for girls to develop their skills and enjoy football.
Through these sessions, we will introduce over 40 girls aged 8 to 13 to the skills of football in a fun and inclusive enviornment, while also supporting the development of agility balance and coordination.
Through Crowdfunding, we aim to establish new girls’ teams at the under 9, 11, and 13 levels. This effort is more than just building teams; it’s about creating a strong foundation for girls’ GAA in Dorsey, making our club a hub for new opportunities for young players to get involved in football, build friendships, and grow their passion for the GAA locally in our rural border area.
A key part of this initiative is developing volunteer coaches from within our club, specifically engaging the mothers of our young players. We will use Crowdfunding to fund their coach education and development, ensuring that these new teams have the best possible support and guidance on their journey.
Sport NI alignment
Our Crowdfunder can be matched by Sport NI up to £5,000. Our new girls’ GAA programme at Dorsey Emmets GFC aligns closely with the objectives of the Sport NI "Creating Opportunities" programme, particularly in its focus on inclusivity, community connection, and providing access to sport for underrepresented groups. Because we can get match funded, here’s how our Crowdfunding initiative matches Sport NI’s criteria and objectives:
Levelling the Playing Field: Sport NI's programme aims to address inequalities in sport, ensuring that those traditionally excluded from participating have new opportunities to get involved. Our girls' programme specifically targets a group that is often underrepresented in GAA sports—young girls in rural communities. By creating teams at the under 9, 11, and 13 levels, we provide a structured pathway for girls to engage in football, ensuring they have equal opportunities to participate, compete, and grow within the sport.
New and Additional Activities: Sport NI prioritises funding projects that are new and additional rather than those that are part of a club’s regular activities. Our programme represents a fresh initiative for Dorsey Emmets GFC, focusing on the creation of entirely new girls' teams. This is not a continuation of existing activities but rather an expansion that opens up access for a new demographic. The 12-week structure with multiple weekly sessions and a Saturday morning component ensures that this programme provides a sustained and meaningful impact on participants.
Community Connection and Engagement: A central goal of Sport NI’s programme is to connect communities through sport, making physical activity more accessible throughout Northern Ireland. Our project’s focus on engaging the local community by training volunteer coaches—specifically the mothers of young players—helps create a sense of ownership and connection. This approach fosters community bonds and encourages long-term engagement in sport. It aligns with Sport NI’s aim to bring people together to find new solutions for increasing participation.
Targeting Underrepresented Groups: The “Creating Opportunities” programme by Sport NI places particular emphasis on supporting groups that have been underrepresented in sports, such as women and girls, young people, and those in rural areas. Our project is designed to address these needs directly by establishing a girls’ football programme in Dorsey, a rural border community. This makes it easier for young girls to access sporting opportunities without having to travel long distances, which can be a significant barrier in rural areas. It also helps address the gender disparity in sports participation locally.
Coach Development and Capacity Building: Sport NI also aims to build resilience within the sporting sector by encouraging clubs to embrace new ways of working and developing their capacity to deliver sports. Our plan to train volunteer coaches aligns perfectly with this objective. By equipping local mothers with coaching skills, we are building a sustainable coaching base that will support our new girls’ teams in the long run. This ensures that our club can continue to grow and adapt, providing high-quality training for players and fostering a culture of inclusivity.
Crowdfunding provides a means to directly involve the community in the success of this project, fostering a sense of shared ownership and investment. By raising funds for both the programme and coach development, we can access Sport NI’s match-funding support, which can double the impact of local contributions. This approach ensures that the financial burden of delivering the programme is shared, making it easier to meet the needs of our rural community while aligning with Sport NI’s goal of making funding more accessible to clubs that serve underrepresented groups.
How we’ll spend the money raised
Coaching Costs: £4,680
- 3 sessions per week (1 hour each): £30/hour
- £30 x 3 sessions/week = £90/week
- £90 x 12 weeks = £1,080
- 1 session per week (2 hours on Saturdays): £30/hour
- £30 x 2 hours = £60/session
- £60 x 12 weeks = £720
- Total coaching for 12 weeks: £1,080 + £720 = £1,800
- Additional Coaching Sessions (to cover support sessions and extra training for new coaches): £2,880
- 4 hours/week at £30/hour for 12 weeks = £120/week x 12 weeks = £1,440
- Mentoring sessions for new coaches: 4 sessions at £360 each (3 hours each) = £1,440
Facility Hire (Indoor Training over winter): £2,880
- 2 indoor sessions per week (for 12 weeks): £40/hour
- £40 x 2 sessions/week = £80/week
- £80 x 12 weeks = £960
- Additional indoor sessions for coach development/training: £1,920
- 1 session per week (2 hours) for 12 weeks: £40 x 2 hours = £80/week x 12 weeks = £960
- Extra sessions for community open days and try-out events: £80/session for 12 sessions = £960
3. Coach Education & Development: £1,800
- Coach Education Courses for 4 to 6 female volunteers:
- £300 per person x 6 = £1,800
- Covers entry-level coaching certification and additional skill-building workshops for ongoing development.
4. Equipment Costs: £800
- Training Equipment: £800
- Footballs, training bibs, cones, and agility ladders.
5. Refreshments Budget: £400
- Weekly Refreshments for 40 players and volunteer coaches (water, fruit, snacks):
- £30/week x 12 weeks = £360
- Refreshments for open days/events: £40 x 1 event = £40
Total Budget: £10,000
- Coaching Costs: £4,680
- Facility Hire: £2,880
- Coach Education: £1,800
- Equipment Costs: £800
- Refreshments: £400
Community impact
Dorsey Emmets GFC serves as a vital hub for the entire rural Dorsey community, offering more than just a place for sports. Our facilities and programmes benefit a wide range of community members, creating a positive impact that extends far beyond our normal GAA activity
Our club provides young people in Dorsey with a safe and supportive environment to stay active, make friends, and build confidence. Through our new girls' programme for example, we are focusing specifically on increasing opportunities for girls, ensuring they have equal access to sports and the chance to develop their skills.
By offering structured activities and coaching, we help instill values like teamwork, leadership, and discipline, which support the growth of responsible and engaged young people.
Our programmes contribute to the physical and mental wellbeing of all participants. Regular physical activity through sports like GAA promotes better health outcomes, reduces stress, and fosters a sense of belonging.
In addition to our youth teams, we also have our senior team and walking track, and gym encouraging community members of all ages to stay active, whether through matches, games or structured training sessions.
Our facilities serve as a central gathering point for the community, bringing people together beyond just match days. The clubhouse and grounds are frequently used for events such as local meetings, family fun days, and community celebrations, fostering a strong sense of connection among residents.
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!