Provincial Council for Britain in Association with Ulster GAA WELCOME Strategic Review and Action Plan

Chair of GAA Council for Britain Welcome

Ulster GAA Purpose of the Day

OUTCOMES FOR THE SESSION 10.10am OUTCOMES FOR THE SESSION By the end of the day we will have worked to develop A clearer understanding and appreciation of the challenges that the GAA in Britain face moving forward. An appreciation of the need to work together as a Team in Britain. A recognition of the need to deliver on the Strategic Vision in Britain and the degree of the dependency on Ulster GAA. A strategic framework and action plan that will empower volunteers in the delivery of coaching, games, refereeing, administration and governance.

Rules of Engagement Opinions valued No put downs Open Mind Listen... Listen Communicate concisely Achieve an action plan Outside box Blue sky thinking Consider how we deliver

Why does Britain need an Action Plan 1.Allows the Province/ County/ Club to go in same direction 2.Allows Members to understand the aspirations 3.Your input - creates Ownership & Identity 4.Identifies Goals & Focus for your activity 5.Assists with the recruitment of new members 6.Helps identify obstacles and ways to negotiate them 7.Allows Ulster the opportunity to plan support 8.Assist with budgeting for support – what is realistic 9.Helps to move towards Sports Council recognition

“ … to have Gaelic games and related GAA activities embedded in sustainable ways in the community and sporting fabric of Britain ” “An Bhratach in Airde sa Bhreatain” is not an action plan. It is instead a framework for the way ahead. p7

It will do that by: 1.building and developing its organisational capacity 2.strengthening the GAA Club; County and Provincial infrastructure 3.developing Gaelic games in schools and Third Level institutions 4.emphasising the cultural and heritage aspects of the Association 5.promoting the GAA and its work positively and consistently 6.securing the resources needed to deliver this work 7.maintaining strong links with the GAA in Ireland. The mission of the GAA in Britain is to provide the leadership and support needed to help achieve that vision.

“ … to have Gaelic games and related GAA activities embedded in sustainable ways in the community and sporting fabric of Britain ” “An Bhratach in Airde sa Bhreatain” is not an action plan. It is instead a framework for the way ahead. p7

10.30am Provincial Council for Britain- Core Values: Guiding Principles Inclusion, open and welcome Irish Identity and role of Games Community and Place Sense of Purpose ????? BRITAIN GAA CORE VALUES “ … to have Gaelic games and related GAA activities embedded in sustainable ways in the community and sporting fabric of Britain ” 1.inclusiveness, being open and welcoming to all 2.the Irish identity and the role of Gaelic games in it 3.the strong underpinnings of the GAA that are based in community and in place 4.the sense of purpose and belonging that the GAA offers.

An Bhratach in Airde sa Bhreatain Structures and Governance The Games Schools and Colleges Grounds & Physical Development Promotion and Marketing Relationship with Ireland Resources and Finances what we have learned” Handout

Recommendations: Structures and Governance 1.Retain the current Province/County/Club structure and associated roles/remits 2.Seek a derogation from the “five year officer rule” until 2010 in Britain 3.Put in place a “Feile 2012” Planning Committee 4.Provide structured Officer (Chairs; Secretaries; Treasurers; and PROs) and management training at County and Club levels 5.Train facilitators in to deliver the Comhairle programme 6.Use the twinning arrangement with Ulster to help roll out the Cumann Maith accreditation process (at Club and County levels), under national GAA guidance 7.Appoint, on a three/five year contract, a Director for the British Council 8.Appoint, on three-year contracts, Development Officers who will work to clear job descriptions, covering the full GAA spectrum from administration to coaching 9.Host a biennial Club Forum, rotated around, to discuss strategic issues; improve GAA net- working; and maintain an overview of the implementation of this Strategy 10.Use ICT to help combat the distance issues in 11.Develop structures and arrangements which will accommodate the full family of Gaelic games, for both men and women 12.All Counties and Clubs to have three/five year developments plans in place by the end of 2008

Recommendations: The Games 1.Each County should publish and implement an annual fixtures programme which provides (a target number of???) games for players of all ages; genders; and gaelic codes: cross-County boundary fixtures should be used where feasible 2.Host an biennial “Coaching the GAA in ” seminar, rotated around, to keep up to date with leading-edge GAA coaching; share good practice within ; and identify new priorities for action 3.Encourage Britain-based coaches to attend the GAA’s annual Coaching Conference 4.Recruit Third level College students to coach in Clubs (and prepare/support them via in-College coach training programmes) 5.Organise games between Clubs and Third Level Colleges 6.Introduce new competitions at U16 and U18 levels 7.Appoint, on three-year contracts, seven County-based Development Officers who will cover the full GAA spectrum from administration to coaching 8.Develop and deliver, possibly based on successful models developed in, week-end/blitz-type competitions for players at all levels 9.Each County should put in place at least one underage Development Squad 10.Every British Club should set the target of having a team in the 2012 Feile 11.The British GAA Council, supported by the GAA overall, should take the lead on obtaining recognition of Gaelic games from the Youth Sports Trust and the National Schools Sports Association 12.Each County should aim to be self sufficient in the delivery of GAA coaching awards 13.Every British Club should set the target of having a team participating in each available level of hurling by 2012

Recommendations: Schools and Colleges 1.Each Club in should put in place a structured Club/school link, based on, at a minimum, the appointment of a dedicated Club/School Support Officer 2.Roll out the “Warwickshire Schools Model” ( including the “Bishop Challoner Eight Week Programme”) across the rest of, as appropriate to local circumstances 3.Develop a pro-active approach to the recruitment of parents to assist with the development and delivery of gaelic activities in the school setting and beyond 4.Recruit Third Level students to provide coaching in school and Club settings 5. Maintain and develop the participation of British Colleges in Third Level GAA competitions 6.Establish Cumann na mBunscol and second level schools Committees and integrate British schools into overall Cumann na mBunscol and second level schools competitions 7.Implement a coaching license system where each teacher and Third Level student delivering Gaelic games in schools has a Foundation Level coaching award; a child protection certificate; a First Aid badge; and a police check 8.Encourage teachers and pupils/students to develop projects on GAA-related themes 9.Liaise with local education authorities re potential support for Gaelic games in education settings

Recommendations: Grounds and Physical Development 1.An audit to establish the number of proper GAA pitches (and associated facilities) either owned by, or available to, GAA units in should be carried out 2.Each Club should set and work to a target of having at least one dedicated gaelic games pitch (with appropriate accompanying facilities), vested in the GAA 3.Each County should have reasonable access to a vested, possibly via twinning arrangements with other Counties 4.GAA should agree a programme of support with DION

Recommendations: Culture and Heritage 1.Counties and Clubs should develop and partake in a “Scor An Bhreatain”, at junior and senior levels 2.“Scor An Bhreatain” winners should be invited into the All-Ireland Scor Finals 3.All GAA premises should be “branded” as gaelic and Irish, for example via the use of Irish language signs and gaelic art 4.Elements of Irish music; dance; and/or drama should form part of all major GAA programmes in, eg at Finals; NFL/ games; etc 5.The GAA in should collaborate with like-minded organisations in the cultural area, eg CCE and Conradh na Gaeilge 6.Links should be developed with indigenous English, and other, cultural activities 7.An annual “The Irish in ” event (eg a lecture; conference; exhibition) should be hosted by the GAA, and rotated around 8.A cultural aspect should be included in all Britain/Ireland GAA exchanges and tours and as part of all intra-Britain weekend/blitz-type games competitions

Recommendations: Promotion and Marketing 1.All Counties and Clubs, and the British Council should appoint an active PRO, for whom structured training should be provided 2.All GAA units’ strategic plans should include a focus on PR and marketing, leading to the rolling out of local PR and marketing programmes 3.All units of the Association should put in place, and keep updated, their own dedicated but inter-linked websites 4.The British Council should produce a high quality “This is the GAA” leaflet, outlining what the GAA is and what it does 5.A dedicated page should be sought in both All-Ireland Senior Final match programmes for editorial covering GAA affairs in (the editorial to be provided by the British Council) 6.Positive links with the TV; radio; and press media should be developed at national; County; and Club levels across 7.Specific PR programmes should form part of the competitive visits of all Irish GAA teams to 8.ICT options (eg texting) should be used to full effect 9.A specific PR and marketing strategy should be developed for the Feile na Peile in in The possibility of holding major “national” GAA events in should be considered 11.The British Council and each County should publish a newsletter at least twice a year whilst Clubs should publish one at least four times a year 12.Marketing of the GAA in should reflect priorities set and guidance given by the GAA nationally

Recommendations: Resources and Finance 1.All units should put in place a pro-active volunteer recruitment programme 2.All County and Club plans should include a clear sense of the costs of their activities and proposals, with an accompanying outline of how those costs will be met 3.The Council of Britain should agree with the Irish government a needs-based three year funding programme for the GAA in Britain 4.Counties and Clubs should open discussions with local government and education to investigate joint-working and how added resources could be obtained for the GAA 5.The Council of Britain should develop, in association with, a sponsorship strategy for the GAA in Britain 6.The Council of Britain should open discussions with the various Sports Councils, using the experience gained in the northern six Counties in Ulster, as to how Gaelic games can be recognised and supported as an established part of Briain’s sporting fabric

10.40am Where is GAA in Britain today? 1.What are the good things we do that we must keep doing? 2.What do we do occasionally that we need to do consistently? 3.What are the bad things we do that we must stop doing? 4.What didn’t we do- that we must start doing?

What are the good things we do that we must keep doing? What are the bad things we do that we must stop doing? What do we do occasionally that we need to do consistently? What didn’t we do- that we must start doing?

12.00pm /REVISE/MERGE/RETAIN THEMES + vote if required KEY THEMESKEY THEMES KEY THEMESKEY THEMES 1.Structures and Governance 2.The Games 3.Schools and Colleges 4.Grounds & Physical Development 5.Promotion and Marketing 6.Relationship with Ireland 7.Resources and Finances

12.15pm Consolidate THEMES Coaching / Refereeing Games Programme Governance Facilities and Infrastructure Community & Inclusion KEY THEMESKEY THEMES KEY THEMESKEY THEMES Culture & Heritage

Theme - Area EXAMPLE Governance Fit for Purpose Review Committee System Communication Teams set up Communications Plan in Place Coaching and Games Increase and Improve our Games Competitions Coach Development Tutor Development Referees Support Referee Development Games Programme Summer Camp Programme Teachers Programmes Camogie Camps Referees Academy Referees Assessors Young Whistlers Schools Competitions Facilities and Infrastructure Increasing and Improving the GAA Plant: Facilities Health and Safety Assessment Partnerships identified Access GAA money GAA Facility in each region Culture and Heritage Enhancing the Gaelic in the GAA Reenergise Scór Increase visibility of Irish Language Development of Cultural links with Ulster Scots Opportunities to learn the Irish language Community Development, Inclusion and Cohesion The End Game, working with Ladies Codes Strengthen health and wellness and community health Establish better link with ladies codes Integrated Confederation of GAA Codes Integrated fixtures scheduled Integrated coach development programmes

Theme - Area BRITAIN

Provincial Council of Britain in Association with Ulster GAA Lunch back 1.15pm

1.15 – 3.13 Action

Consolidate and Agree THEMES Coaching / Refereeing Games Programme Governance Facilities and Infrastructure Community & Inclusion KEY THEMESKEY THEMES KEY THEMESKEY THEMES Culture & Heritage

WHAT Needs doing in each theme Key Actions (that will be delivered) Theme 1: Facilities –Action 1: We will develop a new pitch in Glasgow –Action 2: We will refurbish a pitch in Cardiff –Action 3: We will upgrade changing facilities in Birmingham –Action 4:We will work with local authorities and get joint use of facilities in Dundee Theme 2: Theme 3: Theme 4: Handout Ideas Prompts

Coaching and Refereeing Coaching & Refereeing Primary Schools Secondary Schools Third Level Education Tutor Trainers Tutor Development GAA Courses Foundation and Level 1 Code of Ethics and Child Protection Referee Development

Action Planning Theme:Coaching and Refereeing Action TimingOutcome soughtCommittee / Person responsible Led by 1. Tutor Development to help deliver programmes within Britain March 2011 March 2012 Tutors Identified Training delivered Tutor In-service County BoardsGDA and Ulster GAA 2. Course Delivery at foundation and awards 1 and 2 June 2011 September 2011 March 2012 March 2013 Foundation Course delivered Birmingham Foundation course Glasgow Level 1 Children’s Course Manchester Level 1 Youth and Adult Programme Cardiff Level 2 Programme County BoardsGDA and Ulster GAA 3. Summer Coaching Programme in major clubs August 2012 two week programme Support from Ulster GAA County BoardGDA 4.

Games Games Programme Primary Schools Secondary Schools Third Level Education Summer Camps Referees Parental/ Coach Recruitment Respect and Discipline Joint Fixtures with Ladies Codes

Action Planning Theme:Games Development ActionTimingOutcome soughtCommittee Person responsible Led by

Governance Governance and Administration Committee Structures COMMUNICATIONS Full-time Staff Management and Performance Reviews Finance and Marketing Code of Ethics and Best Practice CASS Confederation fro Gaelic Games

Action Planning Theme:Governance and Administration ActionTimingOutcome soughtCommittee Person responsible Led by

Facilities and Infrastructure Health and Safety Facility Development Financing Facilities National Infrastructure Committee National Lottery Applications CASS Integration and Joint Facility Development Facilities and Infrastructure

Action Planning Theme:Facilities and Infrastructure ActionTimingOutcome soughtCommittee Person responsible Led by

Culture and Heritage ScorIrish LanguageIrish Dancing Links with Ulster Scots Local Authority – culturally significant groups

Action Planning Theme:Culture and Heritage ActionTimingOutcome soughtCommittee Person responsible Led by

Review of themes and actions proposed

Leadership 10% Council for Britain County Boards British Universities GAA Ulster GAA People Management (9%) Education Training Vetting Policy & Strategy (8%) Vision and Direction Action Plan Resources (9%) Finances People Facilities Process 14% Governance Administration Discipline Competitions Results 14% More Playing Good Discipline Administration Governance Structures Coaching Facilities Competitions Refereeing More Clubs People Satisfaction (9%) Players Spectators Coaches Customer Satisfaction (20%) Players Spectators Coaches Impact on Society (6%) Health Social Cultural ENABLERS 50% RESULTS 50% 3.45pm Next Steps - Building for Excellence – Focus on whole System

Summary – What Next Foreword – President (100 words) - TBD Background – GAA in Britain - TBD SWOT Analysis Key Themes Identified Key Actions Required Delivery by to be agreed Submission to Council for Britain. Submission to GAA International Committee

OUTCOMES FOR THE SESSION By the end of the day we will have worked to develop A clearer understanding and appreciation of the challenges that the GAA in Britain face moving forward. An appreciation of the need to work together as a Team in Canada. A recognition of the need to deliver on the Strategic Vision in Britain and the degree of the dependency on Ulster GAA. A strategic framework and action plan that will empower volunteers in the delivery of coaching, games, refereeing, administration and governance and matches their vision, goals and objectives.