Club Model: Case Study of Good Practice

Ballynahinch RFC

Model Club section: Area of good practice: Workforce Development/Community Volunteer Development/Sport in the Engagement Community Club Model: Case Study of Good Practice

Overview

Ballynahinch RFC have been continuously involved in the Sport Uniting Communities programme. Following on from their club members attending a Volunteer Development Day the club has benefitted from various initiatives both on and off the pitch.

The intended outcomes from their involvement in a cross- community volunteer development programme were: • To increase knowledge around recruitment, retention and reward of club volunteers • To create close links with other local sports clubs from Gaelic and Football backgrounds • To get the opportunity to learn how other sports manage volunteers • To avail of any future opportunities for club members and volunteers to be involved with the programme

The steps Ballynahinch have taken for this to be a success and the positive impacts are highlighted across the next few slides. Club Model: Case Study of Good Practice

What was delivered?

In Year 1 (2018) of the Programme Ballynahinch attended the Volunteer Development Day in and in Year 3 (2020) they attended an Online Volunteer Development Presentation with clubs from GAA and Football. They had planned to send a number of volunteers and committee members to a Volunteer Development event which had to be cancelled due to the pandemic. As a result of their attendance at our VDP events Ballynahinch have also been involved in other aspects of the programme. Their young members have been involved in our Game of 3 Halves events, valued volunteer club members have been on Stadium tours of Kingspan Stadium, The National Football Stadium at Windsor Park and Croke Park, young volunteers have been accredited through our GoldMark scheme and the club were awarded a sports equipment pack due to their prolonged, sustained involvement within the Sports Uniting Communities Prog ramme.

Why was it successful?

This was successful as across the years of their involvement Ballynahinch have furthered previous relationships and created new links with local sports clubs. The GAA provide them with their closest links – off the back of this years VDP new links have been established with and Gaelic Clubs and Ballynahinch have been involved in a Game of 3 Halves event at GAC. James Kirk, Ballynahinch RFC Chairman said that Volunteer Development events really help the club to continue to develop its volunteering structures, learn new things and make sure volunteers are appreciated by the club. Following on from their attendance at our VDP days Ballynahinch have also b een involved in other aspects of the programme such as our Game of 3 Halves events, Stadium tours, equipment packs and the accreditation of young volunteers through the GoldMark scheme. Club Model: Case Study of Good Practice

Steps to success

Below are some of the notable steps taken in Ballynahinch’s successful ongoing participation in the Sport Uniting Communities Volunteer Development Programme :

• Appreciation that involvement in Volunteer Development and Cross Community events can have a huge benefit to the club • Members engaging at the event and created new links with local clubs • A sustained involvement across all aspects of the Sport Uniting Communities Programme, both on and off the pitch.

What has been the impact?

The impact of this work can be highlighted by the continued links with up to 4 local GAA clubs (, Loughinisland, Dromara and St. Johns). These links and close relationships with some of the non-traditional rugby playing schools means that players from a GAA playing background make up a strong percentage of the clubs mini, youth and adult squads. This helps change the perception of the club in the local community and demonstrates their inclusive ethos. The impact can also be seen in the benefits the club has had from its sustained involvement within the programme. Volunteers have been able to attend Stadium tours and get accreditation and the club has been able to a ttain coaching equipment packs and be involved in local Game of 3 Halves events. Why is the Club better off? • Closer links to local sports clubs • Ability to learn and take ideas from other clubs • Club volunteers offered rewarding opportunities such as accreditation, stadium tours • Club gain coaching equipment packs and Community sports events Club Model: Case Study of Good Practice

What are the key learnings?

There are a number of key learnings that can be taken away from this particular case study:

• It pays for clubs to engage in Volunteer Development Days and cross community events • Sustained involvement allows for the club and its volunteers to benefit from the ongoing support that the Sport Uniting Communities programme can offer • Rugby clubs can work together with local sports and be mutually beneficial • Attendees at the Volunteer Development events learn new ideas and help understand how to recruit/retain/reward volunteers