**Last updated on Wednesday 15th April 2020**
Why is the GAA involved in Covid-19 response?
The GAA is Ireland’s largest sporting and community association with a footprint into every community in the country. In light of the unprecedented challenges facing us in responding to Covid-19 the public health authorities and governments in both jurisdictions have turned to the GAA to assist in the community-based response.
This is focused on supporting those most vulnerable to and most impacted by the virus – older people, those suffering from an underlying condition, and those living alone and forced to cocoon (without a family network immediately available to support them), or other members of the community who may require some practical assistance at this time.
County Community Response Forums
In the 26 counties, Community Response Forums have been established by each local authority. They have been tasked with ensuring that there is a co-ordinated response and to enable all voluntary and statutory agencies to collaborate in support of our communities and particularly our most vulnerable members. GAA County Boards are represented on each forum.
Each Community Response Forum has a helpline to assist at-risk members of the public in accessing non-emergency and non-medical supports and advice during the current public health emergency. The helpline is focused primarily on ensuring that vulnerable members of the community or those living alone can access deliveries of groceries, medicine etc.
Click here for local authority details for:
What’s required from GAA clubs in the 26 counties?
- Register any Covid-19 community initiative your club is coordinating with your county secretary (secretary.county@gaa.ie) and your local Community Response Forum via the email or phone number on the link above
- Assign a club Covid-19 Community Response co-ordinator/team to act as a central contact and to maintain records of all volunteers and relevant contact information
- Carefully choose members deemed suitable to work in any club-coordinated Covid-19 community response
- Make sure all Covid-19 volunteers are issued a copy of this document
- If the sustainability of the service your club is offering is difficult to guarantee as the crisis continues, you are encouraged to register your initiative with Volunteer Ireland where additional volunteers may be available to assist. (The link to the Volunteer Centre in each county is available here: https://www.volunteer.ie/about-us/vcs-and-viss/find-your-vcvis/)
Tasks of a GAA Covid-19 Community Volunteer
Below is a list of the types of services being offered by each Community Response Forum. Please note the GAA-designated activities under 4A and 4D below (these categories include the GAA Club Together initiative with SuperValu and Centra)
| # | Type of Service | Community Response |
|---|---|---|
| 4A | Collection and Delivery – Food, essential household items, fuel, medication in line with guidance | GAA/Rural Link, other volunteers from Volunteer Centres |
| 4B | Transport to: Community testing centres, Clinical Assessment Hubs GP and hospital appointments | Local Authority |
| 4C | Social Isolation, supports, engagement | Alone, others |
| 4D | Meals and their delivery | Meals on Wheels / GAA |
| 4E | Garda-related | Garda Siochana |
| 4F | Other medical / health needs | HSE |
A GAA volunteer role will NOT include providing home-help, medical care, mental health services, counselling or care assistance and you should not take on these roles. Requests for such supports should be immediately referred/directed to your Community Response Forum.
Recruitment details for the role
- Volunteers should be GAA members unless directed to the club through the official networks of Volunteer Ireland
- Volunteers must be aged 18+
- While volunteer roles falling under 4A & 4D (above) will NOT require an individual to be vetted certain future circumstances may arise where the GAA could be called upon to assist projects directed by other entities including the HSE, local authorities, charities etc.
Such projects may entail a requirement to be vetted. As this work is additional to traditional roles for which GAA members are vetted, Croke Park will assist you in the vetting requirement. - Therefore, we are requesting that all GAA Covid 19 Community Volunteers access the GAA vetting website at www.gaa.ie/the-gaa/child-welfare-and-protection/vetting. When you commence the process you should choose the role title ‘GAA Community Covid 19 Initiative’ from the new drop box in our vetting forms. It’s the last role option in the list of options contained in the drop box.
- If a club participates in a community response that falls outside 4A or 4D, as per the examples above, club volunteers will be asked to produce their Covid-19 vetting disclosure. We can supply each person with their vetting disclosure on an individual basis. Please email: evetting@gaa.ie to request yours.
Volunteer task locations:
Tasks will be undertaken within your immediate locality. If your volunteering requires you to travel outside your 2km radius a permission certificate can be provided by your Community Response Forum. It will be the responsibility of the club Covid-19 coordinator to ensure that club volunteers have any necessary certificates.
Motor insurance advice
To fulfil collection & delivery roles volunteer will require use of personal transport. Advice from Insurance Ireland is that motorist will not need to extend existing use cover. However, all volunteers are advised to contact their own insurance company or broker to confirm.
GAA Covid-19 Community Volunteers should:
- Prioritise your own wellbeing and stay informed of current advice from public health authorities in order to protect yourself and other from the spread of Covid-19. See here: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus (updated on a daily basis)
- Do not volunteer if you are experiencing any potential Covid-19 symptoms or if you are in any way unwell
- Adhere to social distancing and personal hygiene protocols when fulfilling your duties
- Ensure any persons you are assisting are aware of their local Community Response Forum helpline number through which they can access the full suite of services available to them if required
- Maintain good records of your activities (when required to call, frequency of visits, etc)
- If delivering to persons living on their own volunteers should, if possible, operate a buddying system while maintaining social distancing protocols
- Report any concerns regarding the person’s health, safety or welfare to your local Forum
- Be patient and understanding and display a friendly attitude to those you are assisting
- Respect the confidentiality of the persons requiring support and of all records with which you come into contact
- Always follow the directions and guidance of stores when undertaking shopping/delivery activities
- GAA volunteers should not be required to handle cash on behalf of a third party
- Avail of hand sanitising stations available in stores/pharmacies when collecting items
- At all times drive in a careful manner observing the rules of the road
- Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces or objects used
- Do not enter any person’s home, deliveries are to be left outside homes/door
- Be mindful that many vulnerable persons will not be able to lift heavy bags/boxes so items left should be easily accessible
- Do not call to a person’s door unannounced
- Wear club/county or GAA branded clothing whilst undertaking tasks to make yourself more readily identifiable to those you are assisting