The National Lottery Community Fund has announced funding to Ulster GAA, for a first of its kind project in Northern Ireland, to help raise awareness, change behaviours and produce action on biodiversity and protecting water sources through their club network.
We are pleased to be to be working in partnership with Ulster GAA and Northern Ireland Water on ‘Sporting Nature,’ a project to change practices and make it easier for GAA club volunteers to support climate and sustainability, taking actions and changing the culture across clubs and the wider community.
Kateryn Florez, UK Portfolio Officer, The National Lottery Community Fund, Michael Geoghegan, Vice President, Ulster GAA, Joanne Sherwood, NI Director, RSPB and Pat McCauley, Education Officer, NI Water pictured with Lamh Dhearg GAA club underage members Oran, Amber, Lauren, Cody and Mason.
Diarmaid Marsden, Head of Club and Community Development Department, Ulster GAA explained: “Thanks to this National Lottery funding, 30 clubs and associated members will take action by promoting awareness of biodiversity. Learning will be shared across GAA and other sports clubs, building on what they’ve done before and complementing existing local authority action.
“We will be training leadership teams and young leaders on biodiversity, supporting club ‘Green Teams,’ providing help and advice for clubs to improve their walkways and create habitats within sports grounds, as well as protecting water sources."
“This three year project will bring about physical and behavioural change together with long term sustainable cultural change in the GAA club and community landscape. We are delighted to partner with RSPB NI and NI Water to provide expertise in these areas.”
This funding comes from The National Lottery Community Fund’s UK wide Climate Action Fund, which was set up to help communities reduce their carbon footprint and show what is possible when people take the lead in tackling climate change. For more information, check out the press release here:
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