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50 | WINTER 2022 / JANUARY 2023 | www.ladiesgaelic.ie As our Cork and Galway G4M&O inclusion programmes draw to a close, we sat down with Cork programme coordinator Nora Aherne to discuss the modules, the participants and the lasting legacy of the inclusion programme in the 10 participating clubs in Cork. What was the initial reaction from the 10 selected clubs to being asked to take part in this unique programme? Clubs were excited to be involved in the programme and grateful to the LGFA for selecting their club to participate. Overall, there was an enthusiasm to share this information with their participants and get people involved in the programme. This enthusiasm extended to 'wanting to know more about the programme' so they could inform participants of what was coming down the line. Whilst engaging with the coordinators, what modules did you feel most excited about taking part in? The First Aid courses for definite! To the extent that I was genuinely concerned that we may not have enough places to accommodate the initial interest! For fear that demand would be greater that supply, I decided to limit places to four places per club and have a waiting list for other club members keen to participate. I must say there was a lot of interest too in the Inclusion courses, both the GAA course and the CARA course, which I'm sure the coordinators actively promoted amongst their participants. As this was a joint venture with Cork LSP, what were the positives of having the opportunity to collaborate with another partner to deliver the programme in full? The collaboration with the Cork LSP opened the door to other opportunities for education and development. It broadened the scope for participants to engage in courses outside of the Gaelic Games coach development pathway. Participants were given the opportunities to develop 'transferrable' skills which they can apply not only in an LGFA setting but in their personal lives. Inclusion was the main theme of this programme, do you feel that the targeted modules will have a lasting impact on inclusion initiatives within the 10 selected clubs? Yes, I believe so as there was a cohort of participants who took the opportunity to partake in all courses, with a view to long-term club participation. For example, we had a few participants who learned so much from the Safeguarding 1 course and they decided to partake in the Safeguarding 2 course so they can take a more active role, possibly Children's Officer, in their club in the near future. I also think the Ready Steady Coach module gave participants a taste of coach education and the course itself was perfectly pitched to break down any attitudinal barriers that the participants may have had in terms of teaching the skills of the game. The fact that this course was delivered online to only G4M&O participants was appealing to the participants. Long term, I hope the participants will partake in more courses and assume roles in their clubs. With so many inclusion leaders now in clubs in Cork, what do you think have been the main outcomes for a programme like this? From my engagement with the coordinators and the participants on the various courses, I think there is a desire to apply the learning from the courses to future roles in the clubs. The clubs need to maintain that connection with the participants and look to encourage and support the individuals in future roles. The programme has equipped the participants with the knowledge and understanding, clubs now consider supports such as mentoring or perhaps assistant roles to develop confidence and nurture participants as they look to transition to new roles. What would your advice be to any clubs that were thinking of implementing inclusion programmes? I would recommend clubs to avail of the opportunity if it is offered to them. It is important that clubs understand the objectives of the programme and consider how their participation on the programme could benefit current and future members. Consider inclusion as a core value in your club, this programme will provide clubs with a unique opportunity to develop and educate personnel on knowledge and skills required to promote inclusion in their clubs. The sharing and learning should not stop after the completion of the programme and clubs should consider the programme as Phase 1 in a connected club framework to promote inclusion in clubs. From Gaelic4Mothers&Others to Club Volunteers: Dormant Account Opportunities. GAELIC4MOTHERS & OTHERS