The ‘Game Changers’ event is an introduction to Erasmus+ and will facilitate attendees to work together in groups to identify issues and challenges and from that develop project ideas that would be eligible then for Erasmus+ funding.
By John Harrington
On Saturday, September 14, Croke Park will host 'Game Changers - Youth & Coaches in Action', an event organised by Léargas which aims to bring together those involved in grassroots sports in order to identify issues and challenges in sport in Ireland and from there introduce them to a new Erasmus+ sport action.
Léargas manage international and national exchange programmes in education, youth and community work, and vocational education and training, and the Erasmus+ sport action is a funding opportunity for staff or volunteers involved mainly in grassroots sporting organisations to gain new skills.
The ‘Game Changers’ event is an introduction to Erasmus+ and will facilitate attendees to work together in groups to identify issues and challenges and from that develop project ideas that would be eligible then for Erasmus+ funding.
Because the focus is grassroots sport, Léargas Support and Development Officer, Katie O’Regan, believes ‘Game Changers’ is a good fit for coaches and young people involved in Gaelic games.
“Last year was our first year but we've already had a lot of interaction from the GAA because of how the relevant the GAA is to grassroots sport and that volunteer aspect,” O’Regan told GAA.ie
“We've had three projects that have been successful in the last year and a half through Erasmus+.
“Throughout the whole of Erasmus+ there's so many different avenues to go down but the four horizontal priorities are inclusion and diversity, digital, sustainability, and active participation. Most of the sports projects we've have had a particular focus on the inclusion and diversity aspect which is nice to see.
“It's for everyone involved in sport be that coaches, volunteers, club officers, and young people, so it's really, really broad which is nice.
“We've found that having coaches and young people involved in sport mixing at past events has been really good. It shares different perspectives and promotes discussion on different topics. We've found that the theme of inclusion really comes up throughout those conversations.
“At the ‘Game Changers’ event we would be hoping to work together in groups to identify issues and challenges and from that develop project ideas that would be eligible then for Erasmus+.”
Those interested in registering for the ‘Game Changers’ event in Croke Park on Saturday, September 14, can do so here - https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/game-changers-youth-coaches-in-action-tickets-939497691887