ULSTER GAA: Young GAA volunteers called to undertake the Joint Award Initiative

REGISTRATION is now open for young volunteers, aged 14-24 years old, to sign up for the Joint Award Initiative with Ulster GAA through their GAA clubs.

The Joint Award Initiative is a partnership between Gaisce – the President’s Award and the Duke of Edinburgh Award – and allows young people living in the six counties an opportunity to participate in an exciting development programme, much of which can be done in their GAA club and at the end to attain the prestigious award.

Young people from Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan can undertake the same programme through Gaisce – the President’s Award.

Last year 92 young people achieved their bronze award, while six achieved silver and Ulster GAA hope many more young people will participate in this programme in 2025.

There are four key elements to the programme:

Volunteering/Community Involvement: Any volunteering work undertaken in your GAA club. Sport Inspire Awards participants will already be volunteering and can count this towards this section. Most activities within a GAA club are volunteering, everything from helping out with coaching teams, mentoring, pitch maintenance, helping out at events, making tea, setting out pitches, participating in club committee, fundraising, participating in a fundraising event, stewards, operating scoreboard, assisting with social media, etc.

Physical: All Gaelic games are eligible for this section so any young member playing or training for Gaelic football, camogie/hurling, rounders or handball. Any young member not playing sport can count other physical activities towards this section e.g. gym, walking, running, keep fit classes, swimming, etc.

Skills: Any skills development outside of school can count towards this, so any young members undertaking coaching courses, refereeing courses, first aid, live saving skills can all be counted towards this, as well as anyone undertaking the Sports Leadership Programme delivered through Peace IV Sport Uniting Communities Programme, Ulster GAA Young Leaders Programme, Learning Irish, Participation in Scór, Club Officer Leadership Programme.

GAA members can also count any other skills development they are undertaking outside their GAA club for example; learning to drive, learning a musical instrument, developing baking skills etc. and online skills development programmes.

Expedition/Adventure Journey: Ulster GAA will be organising a bronze camping/hiking expedition during the summer months which participants can apply to participate in.

Any GAA member undertaking an expedition/adventure journey with their school/club should get in contact with Ulster GAA to check if it is eligible to be counted for this section. Silver/Gold participants must organise their own expedition, this can be done through their club or through an approved activity centre.

Young people starting out on the Joint Award Initiative start at bronze level, with a registration fee of £28 and takes six months to complete (this cost will rise to £30.50 from April 2025).

Those who have completed bronze are welcome to start on their silver journey with Ulster GAA and their club, this level takes one year to complete. While those who have completed Silver can undertake Gold.

Participants undertaking Silver and Gold will need to organise their own expedition, and Gold participants will need to organise their own residential. With club and county activity starting to pick up, it’s the perfect time for young Gaels to get signed up and started on this fantastic programme.

To register your interest please completed the online form at: https://forms.office.com/e/vJFcgk8J2w. For more information email sharon.haughey.ulster@gaa.ie.