BALLYGALGET claimed the Club Social Responsibility award for their commitment to helping people and families affected by Dementia.
John Mitchel's member Roisin Coulter was pivotal in making Ballygalget a ‘Dementia Friendly Community’.
Dementia is an umbrella term for symptoms including: memory loss, problems with communication, planning and reasoning.
The judges said: "This club worked to help communities become inclusive and supportive for people living with Dementia. Players, coaches, committee members and local families have attended club workshops and outreach workshops were delivered to the local primary school and two neighbouring GACs.
"People from different religious and cultural identities visited the club to participate. They also were awarded a Championing Diversity Award from the Alzheimer’s Society to recognise this work."
Roisin said: “Last year during Dementia Action Week, Ballygalget GAC registered with the Alzheimer’s Society ‘Dementia Friendly Communities’. There are people within our club, who are the fabric of our club, who have a diagnosis of dementia. That affects not only themselves, but their families and ultimately our club and parish and community.”
Roisin feels that there is a stigma attached to Dementia, and that much of this stems from the fact that a lot of people don’t fully understand what Dementia is.
That is where Roisin steps in, as she has been indefatigable in delivering workshops to her community and beyond which educates people on what Dementia is.
“For us to be able to support our families and people with the diagnosis, we have to educate people as to what dementia is. So that is the reason behind the workshops. Every month I deliver a two hour workshop which explains and defines the symptoms of dementia and how to support and communicate with someone with dementia.
“Once you complete the workshop, you get a certificate and a Dementia Friend pin badge. To date, within 10 months we have had 123 people complete the workshop. We also deliver workshops internally in the club, making sure our players and management teams and club committees are supporters of all the opportunities around the workshops.”
She began expanding her initiative to the wider community.
“We are nearly a year down the line, and we are now offering the workshops to other parishes and communities,” said Roisin. “So our local primary school, St Patrick’s in Ballygalget, was one of the first to have the workshop delivered to their teaching staff.”
Roisin also delivers the workshop to neighbouring GAA clubs too because as she says: “As much as we are rivals, we’re all in this together.”
“So for example, if we are having an event in our club now, we will now make a quieter time for which people and families of those with dementia can come and enjoy the event in a more dementia friendly setting. So what you are doing, is just tweaking something that the club is already doing to make sure it is more inclusive for someone with dementia.”
While Roisin is delighted that herself and Ballygalget GAC have been recognised for their achievements, she is happy to be able to give back to the people she grew up with in her community.
“I deliver the workshops, but I don’t feel it’s hard work. I was brought up in the club, and the people who are now living with dementia are people who were always around the club when I was growing up, and this award says to those in our community with dementia, that we are trying to support you living with dementia.
“So the award is more about them than us. As a club, we are recognising the contribution that those living with dementia have made to the club in many various roles, and trying to support them with their diagnosis.
“It is lovely to get an award two years in a row for a club our size, but the focus for us is really on supporting our families who are living with dementia. And for that to be recognized is fantastic.”
The club extended their thanks to everyone who has become a Dementia Friend and for the overwhelmingly positive support for the initiative.
WINNER: John Mitchel’s GAC Ballygalget
