18 February 2015
A Chara,
I would like to take this opportunity to invite you, in your position as officers of your club to the first county health and Wellbeing conference on Saturday 21st February in Dunsilly Hotel, Antrim commencing at 9.30 am.
The GAA is breaking new ground as a sporting organisation by seeking to engage our members and communities in which they live in issues including mental health awareness, suicide prevention, addiction, road safety and many more of everyday life challenges. This conference will seek to give participants a brief introduction into a few of these issues by giving examples of the good work that we are already engaging in throughout the county and will also provide an opportunity for club health and wellbeing officers to get the nationally approved training on the day. This will serve as an example of good working practices which can be used in the club maith application process.
I feel it is important to point out at this early stage that our job as volunteers within the GAA is not to become a counselling service, but to signpost our members to the wide range of services that we are working in partnership with across the voluntary, community and statutory sectors in the county. The conference will give participants an indication of the diversity of these organisations and a method of contacting them and engaging with their services.
The overall purpose of the conference is to meet the following objectives:
1. To introduce you to the issue of health and Wellbeing and its role within the GAA structures within the county.
2. To provide you with information that will be of benefit to your club in understanding the nature of the work that is
ongoing at county, provincial and national level in the promotion of health and wellbeing for all of our members.
3. To provide you with information about the role of the health and wellbeing officer and how that role can benefit the club.
It is vital that your club is well represented at this conference, and I would encourage all senior officers of your club, as well as your health and Wellbeing officer to be in attendance.
The conference has the full support of myself as county Chairman, and I will be maintaining a close working relationship with the county health and Wellbeing committee and the dedicated club health and wellbeing officers to ensure that we are able to assist our membership in dealing with these challenging issues,
I look forward to seeing you at the conference on 21st February at the Dunsilly Hotel, Antrim.
Is Mise le meas,
Jim Murray
Cathaoirleach
07803 117628
