Loughinisland aiming for gold in club scheme

Loughinisland aiming for gold in club scheme

22 April 2020

LOUGHINISLAND GAC is going for gold in the GAA’s Club Maith accreditation scheme.

The scheme allows clubs to be benchmarked against best practice standards across the full range of GAA club activity.

The club, which now boasts 382 registered members, recently attained silver status through 19 points which includes good governance, community engagement, coaching and games, creating a safe environment and safeguarding members.

This has been achieved through a strong volunteer base and has been achieved by a lot hard work by a large number of contributors.

The silver status comes just months after Loughinisland GAC attained the bronze award.

Paul McMullan, who has been the driving force behind the development team which helped secure the accolades, said “this could not have been done without the entire volunteer base, everyone played their part and everyone contributed”.

He added: “These awards are physical evidence of the progress the club is making across the board.

“They give us a strong springboard for success, providing accreditation with GAA and Sport NI which in turn will open up better opportunities for us going forward in terms of seeking grant aid to improve our facilities and also to support all the social initiatives the club is involved in from the very young to the older members of the community, and those who have a disability.

“At the present time the club is seeking to put in place a package of measures to support all local people in the current crisis by the provision of physical support for the older and vulnerable who must self-isolate for an extended period  and the provision of online classes to support all local people through the crisis.”

The Blue Wave, the club’s five-year plan, comprised around 40% of the work for the bronze award and it was the springboard to help Loughinisland GAC achieve this recognition.

Paul continued: “The plan and the work done around it has reinvigorated the membership and the volunteer base across all areas.

“There is a lot of good work going on behind the scenes to make sure our governance is second to none. 

“New volunteers have come in and have made a great contribution, not just through fresh thinking and new perspectives but also because their contribution has impacted on the existing volunteer base, renewing it and giving it fresh impetus. There is a strong air of optimism about the club and the volunteer base.”

The club achievements in the past number of years include The Island Games, now in its fourth year; the health and well-being centre, opened last year; a mental health event; the £10,000 weekly lotto draw; a children’s summer camp which runs outside of Cul Camp; senior citizens’ dinner; new club mobile responsive website; the club has signed up to Suicide Down to Zero, plus the GAA’s volunteer development programme and sport uniting communities programme and the healthy clubs initiatives.

Seamus Fay, Loughinisland GAC chairman, says he is delighted the club has achieved the silver and bronze Club Maith awards in such a short space of time.

“Attaining the bronze and then the silver award is a great testament to the hard work of Paul and his team and also to all the great groundwork that has been done in the club by many others over many years building strong foundations,” he remarked. 

“We owe a great debt of thanks to all who have invested so much in this club and community.

“Our club and community plan, The Blue Wave, provides a strong focus in co-ordinating all our efforts so we are all working more effectively. We are delighted to obtain these awards but we will not rest on our laurels and intend now to apply for the gold award and to ultimately achieve platinum status which is the highest category available. 

“We want to keep improving, pushing up the standards both on and off the pitch, setting the bar higher for our players, coaches and administrators so we can achieve more. We need help to drive that on so if we will always welcome help from anyone in our community who can contribute in any way to building on our success.”

Paul added that the volunteers are continuing to help the vulnerable and older members in the area by assisting them with food and medical supplies which maintaining adequate social distancing.

He said: “An incredible effort is being made by our volunteers and this is where the strength of our club lies –  in its membership and volunteer base. 

“These awards are a recognition of all the hard work they have done over the last few years.

“On behalf of the development team, which is overseeing the Club Maith process, I would like to thank them and congratulate them for all that they have done. These awards could not have been achieved without them.”