St Nathy’s learn from the ‘One Good Club’ initiative

SAINT Nathy’s LGFA Club, one of the county’s most successful and progressive Ladies Football clubs, is continuing to thrive in its part in Lidl Ireland’s One Good Club mental health awareness programme.

St Nathy’s, one of just 25 clubs nationwide participating in this initiative, began their One Good Club journey at the beginning of March.

The 10-week programme consists of a five-step youth mental health awareness programme for clubs. The steps, each of which is run for two weeks, are as follows: ‘Connect’, ‘Be Active’, ‘Take Notice’, ‘Keep Learning’ and ‘Give’.

The One Good Club programme has been developed by Lidl in partnership with the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) and Jigsaw, which is the National Centre for Youth Mental Health in Ireland.

The programme’s start date was delayed due to Covid-19 but it has gone online and is being rolled out by clubs across the country last month. During the last two weeks St Nathy’s embraced the ‘Keep Learning’ phase. Player profiles of St Nathy’s stars from the past were shared with younger members.

Club PRO Kathleen Coleman said: “We are so lucky to have the club that we have today and much of it is to be credited to players like these, who paved the way for our younger players.” The club’s senior players created skills videos which were then posted online for the underage players to learn from ahead of returning to training this week. Adding to the theme of learning was a sharing of recipes via short vidoes.

Coleman continued: “Although these were simple recipes, the results are worth it. It was fun to come up with different activities that our members and their families could share together while at home.”

From the kitchen to outdoors – during lockdown St Nathy’s members and their families have fallen in love again with cycling or got into this hobby for the first time. Padraig Creegan, known as a ‘cycling fanatic’, assisted St Nathy’s One Good Club programme by producing a practical video that dealt with an issue that all cyclists have to face at some stage – dealing with a puncture while out on the bike.

Members were also introduced to pilates thanks to former member Nora Anderson, who has recently started online pilates classes. She conducted a live online introductory session to pilates for club members. “Sometimes our urge to try something new can be overcome by a lack of courage, especially these days when technology has become such a large part of our lives,” Colman commented.

“Lots of us were new to pilates and loved the opportunity to learn something new.”

Another part of the St Nathy’s project was the work of local groups who took part in litter gathering along the roads of the club’s area.

Other members got busy recording trick shot using their surroundings – there were great submissions from Cormac Lee, Orlaith Scanlon, Caoimhe Fearon, Alannah Naughton and Muireann Henry.

On Friday night last there was an online table quiz hosted by Liam and Laoise McDonagh. The challenge was packed with questions about St Nathy’s as well as other sports.

Members also got the chance to chat – virtually – with the committee behind the St Nathy’s One Good Club programme.

Coleman praised the benefits of the One Good Club programme and highlighted how club members and players have really bought into the ideas and information presented.

“They committee have worked so hard creating activities and initiatives to raise awareness for mental health and wellbeing in our players and members alike.”

“We saw fantastic, new ways to link with local communities and clubs. Maintaining that connection has been imperative for the players and this programme has help us achieve that.” St Nathy’s are now rolling out the final phase of the programme – ‘Give’.

“We are so excited about the activities we have in store for the club and cannot wait to share them with everybody,” Coleman added.

The Lidl Ireland One Good Club programme aims to increase awareness and knowledge of mental health across the LGFA community. It offers participating clubs the opportunity to support all members and engage in activities that can promote their health and wellbeing.