OUR NEW WELFARE PROGRAM

The Association is committed to ensuring that issues of mental health and welfare are professionally dealt with should they affect our members. It is widely considered that spectator abuse is the only issue that may cause distress to members when they are officiating and nothing can be further off the mark. 

Our research shows that members may feel upset or distressed due to problems that may arise at school, work, home or life in general. As such the Board of Management made it a key priority for 2019 to implement strategies where our members would be supported should the need arise. Earlier this year, a new Welfare Team comprising Eliescha Bazley, Rohan Best and Luke Burton were appointed with Board Member Ian Robinson providing the link to the Board of Management and key stakeholders. 

Association Chairman, Gary Haines witnessed firsthand in 2019 a member who was obviously “down” during a game and it was not due to spectator abuse. “It was obvious there was a problem and once I saw this occur, it made me determined to ensure we have the correct strategies in place to support all our members when it’s required”. 

The Welfare Team have been active during the season and have produced a wallet sized contact card for all members to have an instant point of referral should the need arise. The Association will continue to liaise with members and the various support groups on welfare and wellbeing issues. 

The Board of Management are quite sure that the setup of a program like this is a first for the Association and are quite proud of how far we have all come in the last 12 months. By ensuring members are fit and healthy not only physically but also mentally the association hopes to slowly bring back the numbers that once were, within our association.