Issue link: http://digitaleditions.uberflip.com/i/1518204
www.ladiesgaelic.ie | SPRING 2024 | 59 #SERIOUSSUPPORT ATHLETE MENTOR Lucy Hannon is a current Athlete Mentor on the #SeriousSupport Schools Programme and has played Gaelic football for her club, Dunmore MacHales and her county, Galway in recent years. Firstly, can you give us a brief introduction to the programme and what it's about. The Lidl #SeriousSupport Programme, in partnership with Youth Sport Trust and LGFA, is a school's initiative to help keep young girls involved in sport while focusing primarily on ages 13-16 years. It is a programme set up to show that there is more to sport than just winning, it's about taking part, making friends and learning life lessons through sport and sporting activities. What initially attracted you to the programme and becoming an Athlete Mentor? I initially got involved when this first came about back in 2019. When it was advertised I thought I'd love to be involved in such an important initiative from Lidl and the LGFA. As a ladies footballer, every one of us see the fall off in female sport from the ages of 13-16 and it just shows how important this programme is. I was also thinking if I can change the mindset of just one person from the programme that might have a knock-on effect to her friends, family etc. It's a great initiative and I hope it'll continue for another while to come. Tell us more about the programme and your experiences of working in schools. I find teachers very happy to have us (the athlete mentors) come in and speak to the girls. I think it's a different voice and a different perspective as we aren't teaching them and it can sometimes be all someone needs for the extra little push to play sport but especially ladies Gaelic football. I love the fact that when you go to the Q: Q: Q: Q: Q: A: A: A: A: A: school, the students act like we are teachers until we start having fun and talking about our stories while enjoying all the different activities and show the girls that there is so much more to sport than just being part of a team and winning. But, of course, that helps too. Can you give us some of your highlights from the programme? I love engaging with the girls and getting their insight into their time playing on teams. I also love seeing how they work together when it's an activity that's completely out of their comfort zone but they work so well together to complete the task at hand. When at the end of the visit you hear whispers that someone might say we might give ladies Gaelic football a go and see if we like it. That's just the icing on the cake. What would you say to a school that is potentially thinking of getting involved? I think it's a no brainer. I think it's a super programme working with athlete mentors who have experience playing ladies Gaelic football from club to inter county and have gone through highs and lows of a career. Some girls may relate to our stories but it may be different aspects of their lives and see that things get better, injuries heal etc. Life will throw obstacles at you but you will get past them and it'll make you stronger as a person. I think it may only take a few hours or a different voice or perspective to change someone's mind and get them involved in some sort of activity. It's a super programme and I hope many more schools will get involved in the future. SERIOUS SUPPORT