Area Info
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Setting up an Aldi Community Games Area is very rewarding. It creates opportunities for children living in the local community to participate in a variety of sporting and cultural activities. It also helps to build a sense of community, bringing everyone together.
The ethos of Community Games is based on participation and fun and therefore children of all abilities are welcome to participate. There is an activity that will meet the needs and interests of every child. These activities include athletics, badminton, art, singing, dancing and skittles, to name but a few. See the full list of activities here. Volunteers are the backbone of the organisation. You don’t need to be a sports coach or sports leader to get involved. All you need is enthusiasm and the desire to nurture the development of children in your community within their chosen activity. Aldi Community Games is constantly looking for new people to get involved, either within existing Areas or in helping to establish new Aldi Community Games Areas. For more information on how to get started please see below or contact one of our Development Officers on 090 6433388 |
Here are some important things to know before starting an Area.
1. COMMITTEE
An Area committee must consist of:
· Chairperson
· Secretary
· Treasurer
· Children’s Officer
· Designated Person
Role of Chairperson
· Take responsibility for the direction of Community Games in the Area.
· Chair meetings.
· Co-sign cheques with the Treasurer.
· Ensure that the Area Community Games complies with all legislation.
Role of the Secretary
· Administration of Community Games in their Area (including submitting details to ORS and OAS)
· Communicate with the County Secretary and circulate information to all Area committee members.
· Notify committee members of upcoming meetings.
· Take minutes of meetings and circulate to committee members.
· Maintain committee books.
· In conjunction with the Treasurer, ensure that all monies are collected, paid and received.
Role of the Treasurer
· Maintain bank account
· Ensure all monies due are collected.
· Pay Area Bills.
· Obtain cheque approval and signatures.
· Maintain accurate accounts and prepare end of year financial report.
· Organise fundraising.
· Ensure that additional activities outside of the National HSE Community Games Programme of Events are covered under insurance.
Role of the Children’s Officer
· To ensure that the welfare of all children in the Area is at the fore front of all decision making and of all planning
· To advise coaches, parents and children on issues relating to bullying or discrimination
· To help ensure that all members in the Area abide by the National Child Protection Policy, Anti-Bullying Policy and Code of Conduct.
· To act as a point of contact for parents, coaches or other committee members in relation to any queries regarding child protection and welfare
· To ensure the safe recruitment of all volunteers in the Area, this includes vetting and obtaining credible references
· To liaise with the County Children’s Officer and/or the National Children’s Officer in relation to any child protection or welfare concerns
Other Positions on the Committee
· Public Relations Officer (PRO): to provide PR support to the Area, contacting local media and highlighting the achievements of the Area. This role also includes setting up and looking after Social Media.
· Development Officer: to help increase participation in the Area, including that of participants and of volunteers
· Youth Officer: to encourage younger volunteers to get involved and provide opportunities for those too old to participate to stay involved
with the organisation
· Games Director: to organise activities and events at Area level
2. AFFILIATION
Affiliation is done online and can be accessed here: www.communitygames.info
Affiliation is done online and can be accessed here: www.communitygames.info
3. GETTING STARTED
a. Affiliation
b. Vetting
All volunteers living and volunteering in the Republic of Ireland must complete a Garda Vetting Form. All volunteers living and volunteering in Northern Ireland must complete and Access NI form. These forms must be returned to the Authorised Signatory, Community Games, 20 Inish Carraig House, Golden Island, Athlone, Co. Westmeath and marked private and confidential.
c. Area Participation Form
An Area participation form should be completed, by marking the activities your Area will be competing in for the coming year.
d. Dates and Venues
The County Secretary will then send you information about dates and venues for County competitions, including dates for deadlines for entries. Usually everything will be available to download from our website and links are posted regularly on our Facebook page
e. Area Events
Your Area will need to host Area events before these dates.
f. Online Registration
To register children for events please log on with your username and password to www.communitygames.info
Most Importantly
Provide a FUN and SAFE environment for young people to participate in a variety of activities.
Other Relevant Information
It is advised that any adult working with children attend a ‘Code of Ethics’ training.
Local Sports Partnerships will run the following courses at a minimal cost:
a. Affiliation
b. Vetting
All volunteers living and volunteering in the Republic of Ireland must complete a Garda Vetting Form. All volunteers living and volunteering in Northern Ireland must complete and Access NI form. These forms must be returned to the Authorised Signatory, Community Games, 20 Inish Carraig House, Golden Island, Athlone, Co. Westmeath and marked private and confidential.
c. Area Participation Form
An Area participation form should be completed, by marking the activities your Area will be competing in for the coming year.
d. Dates and Venues
The County Secretary will then send you information about dates and venues for County competitions, including dates for deadlines for entries. Usually everything will be available to download from our website and links are posted regularly on our Facebook page
e. Area Events
Your Area will need to host Area events before these dates.
f. Online Registration
To register children for events please log on with your username and password to www.communitygames.info
Most Importantly
Provide a FUN and SAFE environment for young people to participate in a variety of activities.
Other Relevant Information
It is advised that any adult working with children attend a ‘Code of Ethics’ training.
Local Sports Partnerships will run the following courses at a minimal cost:
- Code of Ethics Training
- Children’s Officer Training
- First Aid
- Active Leadership
4. FUNDRAISING
Some funding is available through your Local Sports Partnership
Also see:
www.activelink.ie –free access website which advertises grants and funding
www.wheel.ie – website which advertises grants and funding, access is limited unless a member
www.foundation.ie -The Community Foundation
Local VEC’s sometimes have grants available
Local Area partnerships
Some funding is available through your Local Sports Partnership
Also see:
www.activelink.ie –free access website which advertises grants and funding
www.wheel.ie – website which advertises grants and funding, access is limited unless a member
www.foundation.ie -The Community Foundation
Local VEC’s sometimes have grants available
Local Area partnerships
5. COMMUNITY GAMES CONTACTS
Please contact your County Secretary for any questions you may have.
Please contact your County Secretary for any questions you may have.
National Children’s Officer:
Caitríona Reynolds
Community Games, 20 Inish Carraig House, Golden Island, Athlone, Co. Westmeath
086 7953564/ 090 6433388 caitriona@communitygames.ie
Caitríona Reynolds
Community Games, 20 Inish Carraig House, Golden Island, Athlone, Co. Westmeath
086 7953564/ 090 6433388 caitriona@communitygames.ie
6. LOCAL SPORTS PARTNERSHIP (LSP’s)
The LSP’s provide education and information at local level:
· Training courses targeting volunteers: such as Code of Ethics, First Aid, Disability Awareness
· Access to sport specific courses through the national governing bodies (NGBs) of sport
The key aims of the LSP are to increase participation in sport, and to ensure that local resources are used to best effect. Some of the outcomes are:
The LSP’s may also have funding available, and information to other funding sources, to help local clubs with programmes and events in the county.
For more information or to find your nearest local sports partnership use the interactive LSP Contact Finder
The LSP’s provide education and information at local level:
· Training courses targeting volunteers: such as Code of Ethics, First Aid, Disability Awareness
· Access to sport specific courses through the national governing bodies (NGBs) of sport
The key aims of the LSP are to increase participation in sport, and to ensure that local resources are used to best effect. Some of the outcomes are:
- Club development
- Volunteer training
- Enhanced planning of sport at local level
- Local directories of sports bodies & facilities
- School, club, community and national governing body (NGB) links
- Increased levels of local participation, especially amongst specific target groups such as older people, girls & women, people with disabilities, unemployed people, and those who live in identified disadvantaged communities
The LSP’s may also have funding available, and information to other funding sources, to help local clubs with programmes and events in the county.
For more information or to find your nearest local sports partnership use the interactive LSP Contact Finder
