Promoting the Community Needs in 2022Bearach An Craobh Rua have been proactive within the local community for many years running with many different initiatives and projects: the Beragh 5 run, the Riverside Walk project and our Community Hub opened in 2019. The aim of this development was to provide an additional training facilities for our teams but more importantly to address the needs of a rural community lacking in indoor sports facilities. Our aim was to provide extensive range of activities and opportunities for both our club and local community members addressing a range of issues from rural and social isolation to mental health. In 2019 we had the opportunity to join the Healthy Clubs, and prior to the Covid 19 outbreak, hosted a series of talks dealing with drug use/misuse, gambling, mental health, teenagers and parenting in today’s society. The new Community Hub hosted our local Beragh Youth Club and a program of classes were available ranging from pilates, yoga, aerobics, chair exercises and circuit training, as well as providing the NI Ambulance Service with a central location for training new first responders and refresher training for the growing number of local first responder groups.In 2018 the Club had become an Aspire Point of Inspiration, and has worked with other groups such Aware. A number of coaches and committee members undertake the Aware – Suicide Awareness and Mental Health First Aid courses. As we all experienced, Covid was to change how we operated as a club and as a society but during this period of closure of our facilities the club got to work on a new dedicated Healthy Clubs Room, providing a private area for individuals or groups to meet with organisations who can provide assistance and guidance for those facing challenges.Sadly the month of December 2021 saw our local community suffer several untimely deaths and the club wanted to assist our club and community in whatever way we could. As the biggest community and sporting organisation in Ireland the GAA is facing different demands and the changing nature of society requires us to focus on the challenges facing our members, especially our youth. This developing role will fall on local clubs in responding to the needs in their communities and areas. Being there to assist and signpost those who are suffering is now as important as our traditional GAA roles as coaches and mentors. The Tyrone Health and Wellness have been to the fore in the county in assisting clubs in addressing these issues and widening roles.________________________________
