Leinster Gliding Centre are proud to announce that they are working with Trinity College Dublin on a new research study. The research will study participants’ experiences of partaking in a gliding sports club over a six-month period and self-perceived mental well-being and their overall satisfaction with life. Importantly, all participants must be women so not only will the research deliver on its important objectives but in doing so will introduce many new women to the sport of gliding.
On the launch day of Leinster Gliding Centre, it was noted that one of the objectives of the Gliding Centre is to embrace and promote far greater inclusivity both in terms of gender balance and encouraging greater youth participation. Speaking on the announcement of the TCD research project, Trevor McHugh, Chairman of Leinster Gliding Centre welcomed this new initiative and the many participants it will bring to the club. “When we first heard that Trinity College wished to carry out such a research project we were both honoured to be asked and delighted to cooperate with such an esteemed educational body. It is a central objective of the Gliding Centre to open up the sport of gliding to far greater numbers of women and do whatever we can to be more inclusive. The sport of gliding can be enjoyed by all, young and old, men and women while those who wish to compete in this sport can do so up to the highest international levels. Indeed, the timing couldn’t be better as the Women’s World Gliding Championship is about to get underway in Spain this July so we really hope that Ireland can, in the future, field a team to participate at this level”.
Expanding on the detail, Cecily Begley, Chief Flying Instructor at Leinster Gliding Centre noted “that the research will take place over a six-month period. All participants will have their membership fees covered for the six months together with their first 20 flights, all of which will be with a qualified instructor on board. This is a unique opportunity for women who wish to learn to fly, and to also contribute to a research study into women’s mental health and well-being. We, at the Gliding Centre, wholeheartedly embrace this opportunity to expand the number of women flying in Ireland”.
The research study is only just commencing and there are still opportunities to take part in this study and learn to fly. Any women that wish to participate should contact Dr Olivia Longe at longeol@tcd.ie for further information on how to take part in the study.
For further information on gliding and club activities, please see https://leinsterglidingcentre.ie/
