Aldi Community Games in association with the HSE, Health Promotion & Improvement, along with special guest Dublin GAA star James McCarthy, hosted an event on Saturday January 19th. in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel, to recognise the 39 Aldi Community Games Areas who took part in the 2018 ‘Steps to Health’ initiative.
 
‘Steps to Health’ is a quality standard administered by Aldi Community Games in conjunction with the HSE, Health Promotion & Improvement.   It is a community-led health promotion initiative where Aldi Community Games Areas promote healthy active lifestyles in their Communities under the following categories:
 
Nutrition, Mental Health, Sun Safety, Physical Activity, Substance Misuse, Health Promotion Strategy, Youth Empowerment, Health and Safety, Equality and Inclusion and Child Protection.
 
Speaking at the event James McCarthy, 6 times All-Ireland winner, Dublin GAA footballer said “It’s uplifting to see so many Community Games Areas take part in this health promotion initiative.  Community Games is unique in all it has to offer young people in terms of sport and cultural activities and is an ideal antidote to the pressures of technology and social media that young people have nowadays. I’m delighted to support this very worthwhile event”
 
Fergal Fox of the HSE commented, “The Steps to Health initiative recognises the vital role all Community Games volunteers play in encouraging young people to make positive lifestyle choices in all aspects of their lives. The initiative offers an incentive to all areas to adopt a more holistic approach to health promotion by rewarding those areas who promote different aspects of healthier living such as healthy eating, physical activity and mental health among others.”
 
Lisamarie McCooey of Carrickmacross-Corduff Community Games (Steps to Health Gold winner) said, “Our area are delighted we took part in Steps to Health again this year and were surprised to see just how achievable it was as we were already doing so many of the steps.  Steps to Health really made us focus our attention on what is really important for both the children and the volunteers in our organisation, such as physical activity, mental health and equality & inclusion.  It was amazing to see how small simple steps created such big smiles for the children.  It helped place a stronger emphasis on all Community Games has to offer, and took the focus away from the competitive elements.  It's a very worthwhile event to get involved in and we would definitely recommend it to all areas.  We're looking forward now to 2019 to continue with this programme and see what other small changes we can make to further enhance Community Games in our area.”
 
How to engage in ‘Steps to Health’
 
To take part the Area must register on the Community Games website using the online portal. The Area must then submit their entry with supporting information on how they promoted the various elements of ‘Steps to Health’ across the year. Entries are judged by the HSE and Aldi Community Games.
Successful Areas will achieve a Gold, Silver or Bronze standard in ‘Steps to Health’.
 
Once an Area achieves any of the above standards they receive the following -

The Area can display their Steps to Health Standard logo on all promotional activity.

• Each standard contributes significantly towards the points allocated to Areas for the National Area Awards. 
• Each standard gives free Aldi Community Games Area Affiliation for the following year
• Each standard has a monetary incentive associated with it

List of Awardees
Askea - Carlow
Athenry - Galway
Aughrim/Annacurra - Wicklow
Ballaghaderreen - Roscommon
Ballon/Rathoe - Carlow
Ballymahon/Forgney - Longford
Ballynacally/Lissycasey - Clare
Ballyshannon - Donegal
Baltinglass - Wicklow
Boardsmill - Meath
Bohola - Mayo
Bruree/Rockhill - Limerick
Cappagh - Limerick
Carrickmacross/Corduff - Monaghan
Castlebridge/Crossabeg - Wexford
Clonbroney - Longford
Clonea/Rathgormack - Waterford
Cranford - Donegal
Doora Barefield - Clare
Drumcliffe - Sligo
Duagh/Lyre Community Games - Kerry
Duleek - Meath
Dunshaughlin/Culmullen - Meath
Erne Valley – Cavan
Ferbane - Offaly
Lisdoonvarna, Doolin, Kilfenora and Killshanee - Clare
Long Tower  - Derry
Longwood - Meath
Lusk - Dublin
Murroe/Boher - Limerick
Portlaw/Ballyduff - Waterford
Quin/Clooney - Clare
Ratoath/Rathbeggan - Meath
Riverstown - Sligo
Rosses Point - Sligo
Shinrone/Coolderry - Offaly
St Marys - Sligo
St Senans - Limerick
Tulla - Carlow

Community Games Steps to Health Awards Luncheon, The Shamrock Lodge Hotel, Athlone Saturday Jan 19th 2019
 
Aldi Community Games with special guest Dublin GAA star James McCarthy, will host an event on Saturday January 19th at 1.30 p.m. in the shamrock Lodge Hotel, to recognise the 39 Aldi Community Games Areas who took part in the 2018 Aldi Community Games ‘Steps to Health’ HSE initiative.

‘Steps to Health’ is a quality standard administered by Aldi Community Games in conjunction with the HSE, Health Promotion & Improvement.   It is a community-led health promotion initiative where Aldi Community Games Areas  promote healthy active lifestyles in their Communities under the following categories:
Nutrition, Mental Health, Sun Safety, Physical Activity, Substance Misuse, Health Promotion Strategy, Youth Empowerment, Health and Safety, Equality and Inclusion and Child Protection.

Format of the day

• Lunch at 2pm
• Aldi Community Games President Gerry Davenport will welcome everyone.
• A representative from the HSE will address all Awardees and Community Games Volunteers.
• Q&A on the importance of healthy active lives, wellbeing, healthy diet etc. with Dublin All Ireland Winning Footballer James McCarthy.
• Areas who received a standard will be presented with their Certificate by the HSE, Aldi Community Games and James McCarthy.

How to engage in ‘Steps to Health’
To take part the Area must register on here using the online portal. The Area must then submit their entry with supporting information on how they promoted the various elements of ‘Steps to Health’ across the year. Entries are judged by the HSE and Aldi Community Games.

Successful Areas will achieve a Gold, Silver or Bronze standard in ‘Steps to Health’.
Once an Area achieves any of the above standards they receive the following -

• The Area can display their Steps to Health Standard logo on all promotional activity.
• Each standard contributes significantly towards the points allocated to Areas for the National Area Awards. 
• Each standard gives free Aldi Community Games Area Affiliation for the following year
• Each standard has a monetary incentive associated with it

Visit the Community Games Steps to Health webpage for more information