Olympic Legacy Fund has provided £18,759 of match funding
St Ciaran's Connected Community Gym Equipment
Dungannon, Mid Ulster, United Kingdom
Aim
Our Project is to enhance our community gym with new upgraded equipment- For the betterment of our entire rural community in Ballygawley.
Who are we?
St Ciaran's Connected is a registered charity with the Charity Commission NI and was established to promote the benefit of the inhabitants of the Ballygawley, Altamuskin and wider Clogher Valley area and its environs in Mid Ulster District- Through sport, health, education and all round wellbeing.
As per our Constitution- Sport and physical activity is as a primary activity of our Charity. For example, our Community Gym is at the heart of our rural charitable activities and provides a welcoming, inclusive space where individuals from across our catchement of Ballygawley (of all ages) can improve their physical health and mental wellbeing.
Our shared facilities is used by the community each week from across the wider Ballygawley community and also wider community groups and clubs.
Our shared gym facility is equipped with a range of fitness equipment (all be it outdated hence why we are Crowdfunding) and offers affordable access to exercise for the entire community of Ballygawley and surrounding rural areas. The gym operates on a not-for-profit basis, with all income reinvested into maintaining and developing the space, supporting local initiatives, and expanding our health and wellbeing programmes as a charity.
By providing a safe, supportive environment, our Community Gym helps reduce barriers to participation, combat rural isolation, and encourage healthy lifestyles across the Ballygawley, Altamuskin, and Clogher Valley areas.
As a rural charity, we achieve our objectives by delivering shared community activities in Ballygawley that promote sport, environmental awareness, social wellbeing, and education. We encourage participation in programmes that support sport, health, wellbeing, recreation, and leisure for all. Our work is primarily delivered through our community gym, local sports initiatives, and cross-community programmes open to everyone. We also engage residents through our Outdoor Environmental Green Garden Area, the Community Youth Club, Fun Runs, Walks, Good Relations Workshops, Community Christmas Fair, and accredited OCN training opportunities.
Our Charity comprises a Trustee Board, made up of local community representatives from across Ballygawley and surrounding rural areas, along with 20 volunteers from the local community.
We have our Outdoor Community Green Area, where we got funding for renovations to a disused pond, a sensory and well-being garden and structures to support ecosystems, i.e., bird feeders, which was created to further the educational awareness of community residents and local schools in environment and biodiversity.
Our beneficiaries include residents who inhabit our rural community across Ballygawley, Altamuskin, and Clogher Valley areas and its surrounding environs within the Dungannon and South Tyrone area of Mid Ulster District Council area. Our target groups are primarily elderly and disabled persons who suffer from prolonged social isolation, and 11–19-year-old children for the advancement of after school education awareness activities
Why are we crowdfunding?
We are crowdfunding to replace and upgrade our outdated gym equipment to create a modern, accessible, and inclusive community fitness space that supports health, wellbeing, and participation for all in our rural area here in Ballygawley. Our current equipment is over 15 years old and no longer fit for purpose, limiting the range of activities and users we can safely accommodate.
We also dont have enough equipment as we look to expand our community outreach and target more underrepresented groups into the gym.
Through this campaign, we aim to purchase: 2 Assault Treadmills, 1 SkiErg, 1 BikeErg, 1 RowErg, 1 Dual Pulley Cable Adjustable Machine, 5 Half Rack Strength Bundles, 1 Hex Bar, 1 Soft Plyo Box, 1 Dumbbell Set with Rack, and new Rubber Mats to improve safety and accessibility. These upgrades will allow us to deliver more structured group sessions, youth fitness training, rehabilitation programmes for older users, and inclusive classes for those with additional needs.
Our community gym is central to life in Ballygawley and surrounding rural areas, where access to affordable fitness facilities is limited. The project will directly contribute to Sport NI’s Olympic Legacy Fund goals by inspiring participation in sport and physical activity, encouraging healthier lifestyles, and creating a lasting legacy of community fitness and wellbeing in a rural area.
Funds raised will ensure our rural community has a sustainable, high-quality facility that supports inclusion, health, and opportunity. The upgraded equipment will be used daily by individuals, families, youth groups, and sports clubs, fostering a positive, active culture. Every donation will help us provide a safe, modern, and welcoming environment where people of all ages and abilities can connect, train, and thrive together.
Our Current Community Gym Facilities & Where the New Gym Equipment will be Housed:
The following images demonstrate our current community gym space, and is where our new gym equipment will be housed.
Olympic Legacy Fund Sport NI
Our project directly aligns with the aims of the Olympic Legacy Fund by increasing participation in sport and physical activity, improving rural community wellbeing, and creating a lasting legacy of accessible, inclusive facilities in a rural area like Ballygawley.
Our charity promotes sport, physical health, education, and wellbeing through our Community Gym, a not-for-profit facility that provides affordable access to exercise for people of all ages and abilities across Ballygawley, Altamuskin, and the wider Clogher Valley. By upgrading our outdated equipment, we will remove barriers to participation, attract new users, and support more diverse physical activity programmes.
The new equipment – including 2 Assault Treadmills, 1 SkiErg, 1 BikeErg, 1 RowErg, 1 Dual Pulley Cable Adjustable Machine, 5 Half Rack Strength Bundles, 1 Hex Bar, 1 Soft Plyo Box, 1 Dumbbell Set with Rack, 1 Rubber Mat Set, and 1 Blue Astro surface – will allow us to expand group sessions, youth strength and conditioning, inclusive fitness, and rehabilitation programmes. This investment will enable more people of all ages and abilities to engage in regular physical activity, improving health, confidence, and long-term wellbeing across the community.
Our project also contributes to the fund’s objectives of promoting inclusion and equality by ensuring older people, those with disabilities, and young people in rural isolation have access to a safe, welcoming fitness environment.
By enhancing our shared gym facility, we will build community capacity, support local volunteering, and strengthen connections through sport. This investment will create a lasting legacy of improved health, increased participation, and community pride in a modern facility that embodies the Olympic values of friendship, respect, and excellence.
How we’ll spend the money raised
Funds raised will be used to upgrade and modernise our community-wide, not-for-profit gym, ensuring that people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds across Ballygawley, Altamuskin, and the wider Clogher Valley have access to safe, high-quality community fitness facilities. The equipment we will purchase with all funds raised is as follows:
Assault Treadmill – x2 – £6,400
SkiErg Concept2 – x1 – £1,075
BikeErg Concept2 – x1 – £1,075
RowErg Concept2 – x1 – £1,050
Dual Pulley Cable Adjustable – x1 – £1,700
Half Duty Half Rack Bundle – x5 – £5,920
Hex Bar – x1 – £1,050
Soft Plyo Box – x1 – £1,080
Rubber Mat (1m²) – x1 – £2,400
Blue Astro – x1 – £1,200
Dumbbells with Rack – x1 – £1,100
Total Fundraising Target: £28,860
All funds will be spent on purchasing and installing this equipment in our shared community gym facility, which serves local residents, schools, sports teams, older people, youth groups, and those with disabilities. Every donation will help create a modern, inclusive, and welcoming gym that promotes health, social connection, and wellbeing across the entire rural community.
Community impact
Our Community Gym is at the heart of St Ciaran’s Connected and plays a vital role in improving the health, wellbeing, and connectedness of the Ballygawley, Altamuskin, and wider Clogher Valley community. As a rural, not-for-profit facility, it offers affordable access to exercise and wellbeing activities for people of all ages and abilities, helping to remove barriers to participation, reduce isolation, and promote healthier lifestyles.
The gym is a shared community space, used not only by individual residents but by a wide range of local sports clubs, youth groups, and community organisations. These include Dungannon Rugby Club (underage boys and girls), St Ciaran’s Youth Club (teen fitness and movement classes), Killeeshil GFC Youth, Cuchulainn an Ghleanna Camogie, Augher Stars FC Youth, Tyrone GAA U16 Girls, and Clogher Valley Rugby Club (underage girls). Adult participation is also strong, with regular sessions for Errigal Ciaran GAA’s Gaelic for Mothers and Others, Truagh GAA Senior Hurlers, Cuchulainn an Ghleanna Men’s Hurling, the Hurling Dads & Lads programme, Augher Stars FC Senior Men, and our over-40s Men’s Recreational Fitness Group.
These groups use the facility for skills development, fundamental movement training, and strength and conditioning, supporting both community sport and individual wellbeing. The gym also provides a welcoming, social environment that encourages friendships, teamwork, and shared learning across ages and backgrounds.
Beyond sport, the space supports broader community use through health awareness programmes, wellbeing workshops, and inclusive activities designed for older people and those with disabilities. It serves as a hub for local volunteering, youth engagement, and community development, reinforcing social cohesion in an area where facilities are limited and travel to larger centres can be a barrier.
New Programmes
Over the next 12 months, our upgraded Community Gym will deliver a structured programme of activities designed to increase participation and inclusion across all age groups.
We will organise a new Community Wellness Programme which will run for 16 weeks, offering 2 sessions per week focused on functional fitness, nutrition, and mental wellbeing, engaging around 40 adults male and female from across Ballygawley.
We will also deliver new inclusive sports programmes designed specifically for individuals with disabilities and additional needs. In partnership with Errigal Truagh Special Needs, we will run 2 6 week blocks of once weekly multi-sport sessions from the gym for 10 young people and adults with learning disabilities, ensuring activities are safe, accessible, and engaging.
A new partnership with the McCague Day Centre in Aughnacloy will see us deliver 3 blocks of 4 weeks fitness and recreation sessions for 10 adults per session, including those with autism, physical disabilities, and acquired brain injury, supported by carers and staff.
We will deliver a new Active Seniors Programme which will operate twice per year (8 weeks at a time) with one weekly session for 25–30 older adults, focusing on mobility, balance, and social connection.
We will create a Youth Strength and Conditioning Programme will run for 2 10-week blocks, supporting 30 young people aged 11–19, helping develop core strength, coordination, and confidence.
From early 2026, Dungannon RFC will introduce a Girls’ Rugby Development Programme at our facility, involving 25–30 girls aged 12–16 in weekly coaching and strength sessions. This new programme responds to the growing demand for female rugby in rural Mid Ulster, providing access to safe, high-quality training facilities and encouraging long-term participation in sport.
Our new Women in Sport Initiative will include 1 weekly class for 35–40 female participants, combining circuit fitness, fundamentals, and postnatal support.
We will also deliver Inclusive Fitness Sessions for individuals with disabilities and those new to exercise — one session weekly for 15–20 participants — and quarterly Community Open Gym Days to engage over 100 residents in free taster sessions, health checks, and volunteering opportunities.
By upgrading our outdated equipment through this project, we will strengthen our role as a central, shared facility that benefits the entire community. The improved gym will help sustain participation, enable wider programme delivery, and create lasting positive impact through better physical and mental health, greater inclusion, and a stronger, more connected rural community.
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!
This project successfully funded on 14th January 2026