St Colmcilles East Meath GFC
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Mission Statement
To be at the centre of our community and provide structured support to our community in a way which helps to enrich the communities we serve. In particular to use physical exercise and sporting participation to improve the health (especially metal health) of all in our community. To help those who are vulnerable especially any who find themselves isolated within our community for whatever reason. We open our facilities and resources to all.
About This Cause
The "How Are You Feeling Today" programme was developed in 2012 the Club felt the need to repay the wider local community for their ongoing support for the club. Conscious that they wanted to reach out to all the wider community and not just to club members the committee consulted with local experts including Dr. Harry Barry and it was decided that there was a real need for a programme supporting positive mental health in the local area. The “How are you feeling today” programme was developed to meet this need. The programme has changed and adapted to need the needs of participants since its inception over 3 years ago. A committee of local volunteers, individuals and those working in mental health services and other areas of expertise was established and the programme began in September of 2012. Essentially the programme aims to target those most isolated within the local community and to bring them out of their homes to meet and mix with others. Some of the courses and activities delivered are specifically targeted at positive mental health i.e. mindfulness, counselling and psychotherapy, but other activities are simply a tool to bring people together and to allow participants to build positive relationships, to support each other and to allow isolated individuals to get involved and play a positive role in their local communities. The cards night on a Thursday night is an example of how those isolated in their homes by mental or other health issues can be supported by a group of local individuals who give up their time to collect, drive participants to and from the cards night and help the participants to get involved in a fun way in the local community. This provides a much needed social outlet for the participants as well as an evenings respite for their carers. “I feel my life has changed, for years I suffered with panic and anxiety and now with my class every Tuesday, which I would never miss, I have found coping skills.” As a community based local sports club, Colmcilles has been ideally placed to locate those most isolated in the community through family or other contacts and committee and club members have ensured that the programme is accessible to those most in need of its supports and have also actively planned and developed the programme to ensure that it is reaching the local community. An example of this is that when the committee realised that there was a relatively low number of men accessing the programme, positive action was taken and a “Men on the move” (men only exercise programme) and a Men’s shed were set up to address the needs of local men. Both of these programmes are now running successfully and between them supporting over 40 local men. 346 participants over 3 years benefitting from courses and supports including Counselling, Mindfulness, Positive Parenting, Health & Fitness and Men’s Shed. Of the 340+ individuals accessing the programme over the past 3 years we estimate that at least 10% have sought support for mental health issues in the past and many more are in need of support in relation to maintaining positive mental health. We recognise the role that a community project, such as this, can play in signposting individuals to appropriate support services and also in supporting individuals to take control of their own health and wellbeing. This programme merges the physical, sociological and mental fitness elements of its sporting activities with the promotion of positive mental health for all the wider community, however, interestingly, despite being a relatedly large GAA club, with a large membership base who could be accessing this programme, the majority of the participants are non-members, who have no affiliation with the club through sport and who would in many cases have never been part of the GAA “family” before becoming involved in this programme. Many participants are now joining the club as non-playing members as they are seeing for themselves the benefits being part of this “family” brings. The club is supported in these endeavours by the GAA nationally through the “Healthy Club Initiative”. Whilst the programme has impacted all members of the local community, benefits can clearly be seen within the wider club membership, players, mentors and other volunteers. Examples include Gaelic for Mothers and Others, Schools Programme and Gaelic for Lads and Dads which are all working hand in hand with the “How are you felling today” ethos. Initially all activities were run free of charge to participants, however as funding became limited and the numbers accessing the services increased, a small cost to the participants has been introduced. This has helped the club to continue to deliver a professional and valued programme to all participants. All activities run during the day and are housed within the club's facilities. This means that the clubhouse is used morning and afternoons for the “How are you feeling” programme and in the evening and weekends for its sporting activities, maximising the potential of the clubhouse as a community space. One participant testified as follows: “Mindfulness has brought a calmness to me. Through inner calmness my life has become more meaningful and enjoyable. I have suffered from depression in my past and I am hoping that with mindfulness practice I will not revisit depression again".