Cumann Pheadair Naofa, Warrenpoint, are celebrating their involvement in the award winning GAA Healthy Clubs project and had a special launch event on Sunday, May 8th – La na gClubanna. The club is one of just 60 clubs nationwide participating in Phase 2 and the Club Executive and Healthy Clubs project team would like to invite all members of the community to help celebrate this achievement through our local launch. We are thrilled that our efforts to provide our members with opportunities to develop their physical, social, emotional, and psychological health has been acknowledged and we intend to make our club a “healthier place for everyone to enjoy”. We want to ensure that everyone who engages with our club benefits from the experience in a health-enhancing way – be they members, players, supporters’ or members of our community. The Healthy Clubs project will help us achieve this aim.
The Healthy Clubs Project aims to support clubs in building healthy practises into their everyday activities while also responding to the health and wellbeing needs of their members and their communities. The project involves an innovative partnership with the GAA’s Community & Health section, the HSE, the National Office for Suicide Prevention and is supported by Healthy Ireland, Sport Ireland, and the Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland. Irish Life has delivered a three year CSR investment to help Phase 2 achieve its full potential in supporting the health of the nation in a very proactive way.
Clubs who participated in Phase 1 of the project, including Cumann Pheadair Naofa, benefitted greatly from the experience, with evidence of increased memberships, a broadening of the volunteer base, improvements in health promoting activities, greater recognition for the clubs in their communities, and access to some new funding and sponsorship avenues. Areas of work included physical activity, emotional wellbeing, health screening, anti-bullying, diet and nutrition, inclusion, drug and alcohol awareness, life skill and personal development, anti- smoking, facilities development, and engagement with older community members.
It was fitting that the programme was launched on La nagClubanna where the group served healthy fruit smoothiemade on site and launched their exciting timetable of eventsplanned for phase 2 of The Healthy Club Project including healthy cooking classes, mental wellness training and Warrenpoint’s Operation Transformation. For further information on Cumann Pheadair Naofa Healthy Club project please contact the Healthy Club Project Leader Katrina at katrinakernan@hotmail.co.uk.
