Mayo football club to be first sports club in Ireland to install Cubbie sensory hub
MANULLA FC is set to become the first sports club in Ireland to install a sensory hub to help facilitate members and the wider community engage in sport and participate fully in daily activities.
The Cubbie is a space where children, teenagers and adults can balance their sensory needs, allowing them to self-regulate in a safe and comfortable environment.
Manulla FC, with Mayo Autism Camp (MAC), have launched their Cubbie for the Clubhouse fundraiser at the club grounds.
They are holding a sponsored fun walk supported by Westaro on Sunday, May 22, as 12 noon. You can show your support on the Cubbie for the Clubhouse GoFundMe page or by joining the walk and raising sponsorship.
You can donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/cubbie-for-the-clubhouse?utm_medium=chat&utm_source=whatsapp-visit&utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet.
Welcoming everyone to the launch at the club ground, Manulla FC’s John Durkan explained how the Cubbie will be located in the clubhouse and can be programmed specifically for each individual's needs, giving them a better chance to participate in activities such as school, work and play.
When they reach their goal, Manulla FC will be the only sporting club in Ireland, with the exception of the Aviva Stadium, that will have a sensory unit in their facilities.
Colette Heaney of Mayo Autism Camp acknowledged how Manulla FC has embraced and welcomed the MAC children into the club.
“Too often the word inclusive is brandished about but Manulla FC are a club that are leading the way,” she said.
This fundraiser was another gauge of their dedication to supporting everyone to be able to fully participate and be included in everyday life, she said. “They realise the importance of regulating a child, a teenager, an adult so they can enjoy and participate fully in the club.”
This, she continued, signifies a club that is very inclusive and is continually striving for inclusion and participation by all.
The sensory hub will offer many people an opportunity to actively engage in the community and give them a new lease of life. It will be available to the wider community and will be accessible at all times.
Manulla FC is a central hub for Mayo Autism Camp activities, with the club grounds buzzing on launch day with the MAC Easter camp and also Soccer Sisters taking place, and special guest the Easter Bunny popped by to add to the children's excitement.
2019 saw the beginning of Mayo Autism Camp at Manulla. The training programmes and camps that run throughout the year have been a huge success.
In Ireland, one in five people have sensory issues while one in 65 have autism. Through its partnership with Mayo Autism Camp, the club has seen the need for a Cubbie first hand.