HSE and GAA to support children with additional needs to participate in local Cúl Camps

The HSE, in partnership with the GAA, is progressing an important initiative to support children with additional needs to attend and fully participate in their local Kellogg’s Cúl Camps. This initiative reflects a shared commitment to inclusion, community participation, and the promotion of health and wellbeing for all children.

Cúl Camps are a central part of community life during the summer months. They provide children with opportunities to develop skills, build confidence, and engage in physical activity in a fun and supportive environment. For many families of children with additional needs, however, access to these activities can present challenges, including the availability of appropriate supports.

This collaborative initiative seeks to remove barriers to participation by:

• Supporting local services and GAA clubs to enhance inclusion within mainstream camps.
• Facilitating appropriate supports and reasonable accommodations for children with additional needs.
• Strengthening links between Disability Services, families, and community organisations.
• Promoting confidence among parents and carers that their children can attend and participate safely.

Through this partnership, the HSE is working alongside the GAA to ensure that children are supported to participate in their own local communities, in line with national policy direction and United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) principles.

Parents/guardians registering a child for Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camps will have the opportunity to outline any additional support needs. Local HSE teams will work with the GAA to review requests and coordinate supports where possible.

A key focus of the initiative is on practical, local solutions, including:

• Engagement with families to understand individual needs
• Collaboration with camp coordinators to support inclusive practice
• Building awareness and capacity at community level
• Sharing learning and good practice across regions.

Early engagement has been positive, with strong interest from both families and community organisations. This reflects a wider recognition that inclusive approaches benefit all children, enhancing social participation, wellbeing, and community connection.

This initiative represents an important step in embedding inclusion within mainstream community activities, ensuring that children with additional needs have the same opportunities as their peers to engage, participate and thrive.

Dr Aoife O’Donohue, Assistant National Director, HSE Disability Services, said: “I strongly support this initiative. It reflects the type of practical, partnership-based approach we need to take to ensure children with additional needs can participate fully in their communities, with the right supports in place. This is about enabling real inclusion and making it easier for families to access opportunities that should be available to every child.”

To ensure sufficient time for local planning and coordination of supports, parents/guardians are encouraged to complete their booking and additional support questionnaire before the June 1 deadline.

Find further information on Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camps.