HSE and GAA Join Forces to Support Children With Additional Needs at Cúl Camps

The HSE and GAA are progressing an important initiative to support children with additional needs to attend and fully participate in their local Kellogg's Cúl Camps this summer.

Cúl Camps are a central part of community life during the summer months, giving children the chance to develop skills, build confidence, and engage in physical activity in a fun and supportive environment. For families of children with additional needs, however, accessing those opportunities can present real challenges.

The initiative is designed to remove those barriers, with local HSE teams working alongside the GAA to review individual support requests and coordinate supports where possible.

Practical, local solutions are at the heart of the approach, including direct engagement with families to understand individual needs, collaboration with camp coordinators on inclusive practice, and building awareness and capacity at community level.

The partnership aligns with national policy and the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

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."

Parents and 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.

To allow sufficient time for local planning and coordination, families are encouraged to complete their booking and additional support questionnaire before the 1 June deadline.