Youngsters from the Hamoaze & Seymour House along with members of the Kool Klub are to benefit from a donation of sporting equipment from Bruton Knowles’ Plymouth office.
The commercial property specialists offered their support after meeting up with local youngsters at last week’s Cúl Camps event held at Plymouth Parnells’ Stonehouse Creek ground.
Glenn Kelly from Bruton Knowles is treasurer of Plymouth Parnell’s Gaelic Football Club, which organised the camps to give children between the ages of six and 13 a taste of Gaelic football.
He said: “We have been playing Gaelic football in Plymouth for the last five years and this was an opportunity to open up our sport to an entirely new generation.
“We were intending to offer our camp to the public, but decided to gift our camp to Hamoaze & Seymour House in Mountwise which provides day to day support facilities for people affected by substance and alcohol use, along with students from Kool Klub who have complex learning difficulties and autism.”
Glenn – who still turns out for the Parnells’ senior team, said: “I was amazed to see them all arrive in their football kit for the second day. To see them take to the pitch with such energy and enthusiasm really made my day. Hopefully, we can keep the wheel turning and help were we can.
“The camp was a great success and we were really pleased that the youngsters from Seymour House enjoyed their two days with us.”
Bruton Knowles is to provide the youngsters with a set of life jackets for their water based activities as well as a supply of footballs so they can hone their Gaelic Football skills.
Cúl Camps is funded by the Gaelic Athletic Association and gives young people the chance to spend a few hours with coaches to learn new skills, build confidence and have fun.
Gloucester County GAA coach Brian Laverty said: “We provide an action-packed, fun-filled activity camp for youngsters who have never played Gaelic Football before, which means everyone starts at the same level.
“For me as a coach it was a challenge to work with children from disadvantaged backgrounds but it demonstrated that sport can bring the best out in everyone. It was one of the most rewarding few days coaching I have done and I can’t thank Plymouth Parnells enough for the work they did in getting this organised.”
