Mid Ulster Wellness Community Gym Equipment

Aim

We are Crowdfunding to upgrade our community gym in Augher- with new cardio and conditioning equipment to open the gym up to more groups.

Who are we?

Set up during the height of the Covid19 pandemic, our organisation is a sport, fitness, health and wellbeing organisation and was set up to support people across the Clogher Valley areas of Clogher and Fivemiletown who were in need because of the pandemic. 

We have delivered 2 Crowdfunders in recent years namly our Mid Ulster Wellness Youth Sporting Initiative where we raised £10,021 thanks to Sport NI match funding, and "One Step at a Time" Sports Wellbeing Programme were we raised £8,425.

Programmes we have delivered as well include our 2024 and 2025 Tbuc programme, older persons programmes and community Pharmacy programme. 

We are also in the process of delivering a funded Ending Violence Against Woman and Girls programme funded by Mid Ulster District Council.

We also part of the Verve Healthy Living Network, and partner with Valley Pharmacy in Clogher and the Community Pharmacy Network.

We have also delivered in the past an out of school Emotional Wellbeing Mental Health Project for Children and Young People. Funded through Telecommunity Fund. The programme was a 10 week out of school Emotional Wellbeing Mental Health Project for 20 Children and Young People aged 8 to 15 (boys and girls) living across the Clogher Valley area. 

When we first came together to set up our voluntary organisation, we focused a lot of our work initially in reaching out to those who we knew were living alone and isolated by paying them a visit and supporting them in whatever way we could. We asked them how we could help and we done our best to assist as much as possible. 

We began to link with wider community groups locally to provide exercise and wellbeing initiatives to those most in need. Predominately, the support provided over the last few years has been for local families, single parents & children, older people, persons living alone and persons with mobility issues / disabilities. 

Our overall objectives as a community voluntary organisation as per our Constitution is to promote the benefit of the inhabitants of Mid Ulster (particularly across the Clogher Valley region) and its environs without the distinction of age, sex, race, political, religious or other opinion by promotion of wellness, through assistance with participation in health, wellbeing and sporting programmes, with the object of improving the conditions of life for local people. 

As per our constitution we aim to promote the advancement of public education and to stimulate and create interest in wellness for the benefit of the local community across Mid Ulster, particularly but not exclusively by:

(a) delivering health and wellbeing educational programmes: 

(b) delivering physical activity programmes. 

Our Current Community Gym Facilities

Here are a few images of our current community gym facilities.

Why are we crowdfunding?

We are crowdfunding to upgrade our fitness equipment so we can continue delivering high-quality, accessible sport and wellbeing programmes for people across the Clogher Valley. Demand for our services has grown, and our current equipment is limited, reducing our ability to support more participants, run inclusive sessions, and provide safe, effective training for all ages and abilities. New equipment including SkiErgs, rowers, an airbike and a treadmill will allow us to expand our programmes, improve session capacity and ensure we can meet the needs of local families, older people, young people, individuals with mobility issues and those seeking support with their physical and mental wellbeing.

Our organisation has a strong track record of using sport and physical activity to address health inequalities, isolation and low wellbeing. We have successfully delivered community-based programmes, two previous Crowdfunders and a range of funded initiatives supporting children, young people, older people and vulnerable groups. This new investment will strengthen our delivery by providing safe, modern, durable equipment that meets the standard required to run group sessions, targeted health initiatives and inclusive community programmes.

Crowdfunding is essential because Sport NI will only provide match funding once we raise our community share. By contributing, supporters help secure up to 65 percent of the total cost, ensuring our area benefits from improved opportunities to exercise, connect and improve wellbeing. This project will leave a lasting legacy by helping us sustain and grow our services, reduce barriers to participation and create a healthier, more active Clogher Valley.

Olympic Legacy Fund

Our project aligns directly with the aims of the Olympic Legacy Fund, which focuses on improving the quality of equipment available to community sports organisations and increasing participation in sport and physical activity. As set out in the fund guidance, Sport NI supports projects that enhance access, modernise equipment and create lasting community benefit.

By securing new cardio and conditioning equipment, we will strengthen our capacity to deliver inclusive, community-led programmes that encourage people of all ages and abilities to be active. The fund seeks to build a legacy from the success of Northern Ireland athletes by inspiring local people to participate in sport and improve their wellbeing. 

Our project supports this aim by expanding structured opportunities for fitness, health education and physical activity across the Clogher Valley.

The fund also prioritises organisations that can demonstrate strong community support through crowdfunding. We have a proven record of successful Crowdfunder campaigns and wide local engagement, which reflects the community demand for our services. The new equipment will allow us to run more sessions, support more participants and deliver programmes that target health inequalities, isolation and low activity levels.

Overall, our project directly meets the fund’s focus on equipment investment, participation growth and long-term community impact.

How we’ll spend the money raised

We are crowdfunding £11,941 to upgrade our fitness equipment so we can expand and improve our community health and wellbeing programmes. Every contribution will directly support the purchase of high-quality, durable equipment that will increase participation, enhance safety and allow us to deliver more inclusive sessions.

The specific equipment breakdown we are fundraising for includes:

4 x SkiErgs

4 x Rowing Machines

1 x Airbike 

1 x Treadmill

This fundraising will equip our community gym to run more group sessions, support people with a wider range of fitness levels and health needs, and deliver targeted programmes for underrepresented groups in sport and gym settings. This includes young people, older adults, local families, individuals with disabilities or mobility issues, and those who face barriers to accessing physical activity.

Upgrading our equipment ensures we can continue providing safe, effective, community-led physical activity opportunities across the Clogher Valley. It strengthens our ability to offer inclusive, accessible programmes and creates a long-term legacy of improved health, reduced inequality and increased participation in sport and exercise for all.

Community impact

Our organisation supports the wider Clogher Valley community by delivering structured, accessible programmes that improve physical health, mental wellbeing and social connection. With the upgraded equipment in our community gym, we will expand and strengthen the range of programmes we can offer.

We will deliver beginner fitness classes for people new to exercise and those who lack confidence in gym settings. Low impact and mobility sessions will support older adults, people with disabilities and individuals with long term health conditions. Women’s strength and conditioning sessions will run in partnership with the Acorn Womans Group and St Macartan Ladies to increase participation among women and girls. Team conditioning blocks will support Augher GAA and other local sports clubs with safe, modern cardio and endurance training.

For families and young people, we will deliver youth fitness programmes, after-school activity sessions, and early intervention wellbeing programmes, building on our history of working with two primary schools in Augher. We will also continue delivering community wellbeing projects with groups such as Friends of Augher and Tullymeadows Community Mens and Hens Shed, offering tailored activity sessions to reduce isolation and encourage regular movement.

The upgraded equipment will allow us to run cardio conditioning, high-intensity interval training, weight-management programmes, mental wellbeing activity sessions, and specialist functional fitness classes for those rebuilding confidence or recovering from inactivity.

Our facility is used for more than sport. It acts as a community hub where people meet, socialise, learn and support each other. By providing inclusive programmes for underrepresented groups, families, older adults, sports teams, schools and charities, the community gym will continue improving health, connection and participation across the entire Clogher Valley.

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