Health & Wellbeing

Tipperary GAA Health & Wellbeing Statement

At Tipperary GAA, we believe that Gaelic Games are about much more than what happens on the pitch. Our clubs are sporting organisations, but they are also community hubs, social support networks and places of belonging, bringing people together and creating opportunities for participation, connection, volunteering and personal development.

We are committed to promoting the health and wellbeing of everyone who participates in and contributes to Gaelic Games across our county, regardless of age, ability, background or role.

We recognise health and wellbeing as a core value and a shared responsibility, with everyone having a role to play. We take a holistic view of wellbeing, encompassing physical, mental, emotional and social wellbeing, and recognise that wellbeing develops and changes throughout the life course.

We want our clubs to be welcoming and inclusive environments where people feel safe, respected, connected and valued, and where everyone has an opportunity to participate meaningfully in club and community life.

Through the County Health & Wellbeing Committee (CHWC), we will support clubs to build on the positive work they are already doing and to further embed health and wellbeing into club culture, policies, partnerships and activities.

Our work will focus on strengthening connection and belonging, encouraging participation and healthy lifestyles, promoting positive mental health and inclusion, supporting volunteers and helping clubs respond appropriately when challenges arise. We will work with our clubs, the GAA Community & Health Department and relevant statutory, community and voluntary organisations to build healthier, stronger and more connected communities.

Critical Incident Support

We recognise that GAA clubs can be deeply affected when a critical incident occurs within a club or its wider community. At these times, the County Health & Wellbeing Committee can provide guidance, practical resources and support to club officers as they navigate the immediate and longer-term response.

We strongly encourage all clubs to contact their County Health & Wellbeing Committee following a critical incident, so that appropriate guidance and resources can be provided and, where necessary, connections can be made with relevant professional services and supports.

Every club is also encouraged to have an up-to-date Critical Incident Response Plan in place before an incident occurs, with key roles, contacts and procedures clearly identified. Having a plan helps a club respond in a calm, coordinated and appropriate manner at what can be an extremely difficult time for members and the wider community.

We recognise that our clubs and committees are made up largely of volunteers and are not expected to do everything themselves. Clubs are not health, counselling or clinical service providers and are not expected to assess individual mental health needs or determine what professional support a person may require. Their strength lies in providing a familiar and supportive environment, maintaining connection and belonging, and signposting members towards appropriately qualified services where additional support is required.

Our ambition is that health and wellbeing is not viewed as a standalone initiative, but as an integral part of the culture and everyday life of Gaelic Games throughout Tipperary– helping our clubs to be places where people belong and contributing to healthier, more inclusive and more connected communities.

In this section you have access to all the resources and information you need to ensure that your club can maintain a healthy and safe environment that is welcoming to everyone.

For more information you can also visit: Community and Health

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