Young GAA Volunteers making huge impact in clubs

Over 200 young GAA volunteers have achieved the Sports Inspire Award and Volunteer Now’s Youth Impact Award in 2023 for their outstanding volunteering efforts in Sport. 

Ulster GAA in association with the Irish FA and Ulster Rugby deliver the highly prestigious Sports Inspire Award which recognises young people, aged 14-24 years, volunteering for 50 hours, 100 hours and 200 hours in sport. Through this programme, many clubs are benefiting from getting local young people involved in volunteering roles within their clubs.

The range of volunteering roles is massive, with young volunteers involved in everything from litter picks,  match officiating, operating scoreboards, fundraising, stewarding, assisting with coaching, catering and some young volunteers even sit on their club committees. The breadth of volunteering is astonishing and clubs are benefiting from the extra help and enthusiasm but also the expertise and knowledge that young people can bring to some roles like social media and technology.

The young volunteers benefit by developing their personal skills and knowledge, all of which is transferable for further education or for their career. The young people also benefit from getting official recognition from the governing bodies of sport and Volunteer Now which many highlight on University applications, interviews and CVs.  Volunteering gives young GAA members an opportunity to contribute positively to their club and community. Ulster GAA are exceptionally proud of the young people who volunteer in the Association and we encourage clubs to get involved in this programme so get even more young volunteers in sport.

Plans are underway for the annual joint Sports Inspire Awards Ceremony, which is set to take place on Wednesday 13th March at 6:30pm in The Mac Theatre, Belfast. This will be an opportunity to bring together young volunteers from across the three sports to highlight their important contribution to the clubs and community.

Any clubs with young volunteers achieving 50, 100 or 200 hours volunteering contact sharon.haughey.ulster@gaa.ie to be included in the Awards Ceremony.

For more information on this programme and details on how to get involved please visit ulster.gaa.ie/sportsinspire,