UNESCO IT Tralee signed an MOU with the Els Foundation, Florida in 2015, to deliver the Ernie Els #GameON Autism^TM golf programme in Ireland and to undertake the first academic evaluation of the programme since its inception in the US in 2013. MSc. researcher Jerrome Suganthy Selvaraj undertook the research study, which used both quantitative and qualitative data sets, using an interpretative phenomenological approach and lens to present the findings. The programme and research was supervised by Edel Randles, Dr. Jackie Gallagher and Dr. Therese Conway. The positive research evidence from the programme has been presented at a number of National and International conferences: Europe Engage Conference, Madrid, Living Knowledge8 Budapest, International Symposium on Service Learning, NUIG, Engaged Scholarship Consortium, Alabama.

On completion of the research, the young participants expressed a desire to continue playing golf, and a partnership to facilitate this emerged, to include:  the Els Foundation which provides the #GameOn materials and support resources; Dept. of Health & Leisure lecturers Edel Randles and Dr. Jackie Gallagher coordinate the programme; Rising Stars coach Adrian Whitehead leads the coaching sessions; ITT Health & Leisure students through their Community Leadership Initiative (CLI) module, coach mentor on the programme; while students from other disciplines also volunteer and Castlegregory Golf Club is the venue where the outdoor programme is located, whilst its club members coach there.

 “The programme has involved students volunteering from the Health & Leisure, Early Childhood Care & Education and Social Care areas, which has brought cross departmental expertise to the programme delivery, it has been wonderful, to see these students working together”.

The partnership has been recognised nationally for this programme. Five members of the group attended the CARA/Sport Ireland National Inclusion Awards last week, in Castleknock hotel, where they were amongst the 3 finalists in the Best Partnership 2018 category. They were delighted to see their work of the last 3 years acknowledged and thrilled to win first prize.