25 May 2012
Efforts of Young GAA volunteers recognised
Ulster GAA is promoting the efforts of young volunteers who help out at their clubs, school teams and county boards through the ‘GoldMark’ Programme.
Run in conjunction with Volunteer Now and the Department of Education, GoldMark aims to recognise the volunteering efforts of young people in sport. The Programme requires young GAA volunteers, who are actively involved in the GAA to complete a Volunteer Record book which is signed off by a club official. There are three tiers of awards for the young volunteers, who have to be aged between 14 – 24years. The three awards are: 50 hours, 100 hours and 200 hours of excellence.
Ulster GAA have rolled the GoldMark Programme out across counties Down, Antrim, Fermanagh and Armagh and will run workshops over the coming months in Tyrone and Derry. Ulster GAA also hopes to offer a similar program to its volunteers in Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal.
Hundreds of young volunteers have signed up for the GoldMark Programme through Ulster GAA’s social network sites and through their club secretaries.
Speaking about the strong uptake of this programme , Ulster GAA President Aogán Ó Fearghail stated, “The GAA is an Association for everyone, regardless of your age, gender or ability. And this GoldMark scheme puts the spotlight on the hundreds of young people who volunteer in their clubs. It’s about giving something back to our young volunteers – official recognition!
“We hope through GoldMark our young volunteers will achieve the three tiers of awards which they will be able to use on their CVs, university applications and in job interviews. The skills developed through volunteering with GAA are transferable skills which we hope will help our young volunteers in their career development, while at the same strengthening our Association at grassroots level.”
Any young GAA volunteer interested in getting involved in GoldMark should contact Ulster GAA GoldMark Co-ordinator Sharon Haughey on 02837517180 or email Sharon.haughey.ulster@gaa.ie
