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continuing annual review the success 2009/10 2 03

continuing the success

contents 04 foreword 06 key highlights  annual review 08 the people behind sport … 2009/10 12 case studies 28 year in pictures 34 looking ahead 04 05

foreword

These programmes form the basis for our work, Sport Wales has been at the encouraging participation for all children and young helm of another extremely people. We are working towards having a sector that is not only delivering high quality sporting opportunities, productive and encouraging but is also constantly challenging itself to improve on that performance. We are in the process of developing year of progress for sport in the structure in order to develop this environment. Wales, where we continued Championing the value of sport has been the key focus of our public engagement work this year. Our Shape up to play a key role in the on a Shoestring campaign adopted a more consumerist approach to challenge credit crunch negativity by delivery of the Welsh motivating the nation to consider low cost exercise Assembly Government’s alternatives. The campaign received extensive media attention and sparked the public’s imagination in the sport and physical activity process. agenda. As an organisation we made great strides in connecting with our most valued assets – our people. For the first time in our history, we arranged a shutdown of all We have built on the momentum of recent successes operations to gather our entire workforce together for and made considerable bounds forward in the face of a day of engagement and re-invigoration. the economic downturn. Through those discussions, the organisation – led by This has not been easy but much of sport is about thriving an empowered workforce – has grown in confidence. under pressure. To that end, we have committed to the We believe now that we are in a better position to lead challenge and are continually working smarter to wring the sector and provide a clear direction, challenging out every last fraction from the resources available to us. ourselves and our partners to continue to deliver on Our programmes have continued to grow with almost our joint goals. 180,000 registrations for Dragon Sport and 66,186 We have the right blend of passionate, knowledgeable sessions delivered. The 5x60 programme also goes experts in place to continue delivering world class from strength to strength with 265,123 registrations and services and elevate sport’s status in Welsh culture. 66,734 sessions delivered. Both of these programmes Our aim however is to see everyone playing their part are encouraging both girls and boys to become more in creating a winning Wales, where success is expected, engaged with sport and are helping us to meet our and our small country becomes world renowned as a aspiration of getting every child hooked on sport for life. successful sporting nation in its own right.

Professor Laura McAllister Chair, Sport Wales continuing the success 06 07

What a year its been! And with our investment in the The launch of the Young latest sports science technology Ambassadors scheme and our ensuring welsh athletes will 4,150 Foundation Phase resources never be better prepared to shows our dedication towards shine on the world stage, we making sport a central aspect of really have plenty to shout about. Active Young People organisers trained 2,327 every young persons life. Here’s just a few of this years highlights: generic sports 600 coaches trained key ‘fans’ sign up to Sport Wales facebook page highlights 2,380

walk leaders registered on the Lets Walk Cymru scheme

96% 5,434 of primary schools students attended Sports delivering Dragon Sport 80,557 Leaders courses

pupils taking part in the 5x60 programme

339,054 79,127 structured sessions 161 18,281 for the 60+ age group structured swimming sessions athletes reach the criteria for Talent provided for the 16 and Cymru student days completed under age group. at Plas Menai National Watersports Centre 08 09

people behind sport wales “I’m part of a great team arranging the In order to deliver a world class However, we realise that we service and also elevate sports cannot do it all on our own so we various national and status in Welsh culture, we work in partnership with a whole international events need to have the right blend host of organisations; guiding of dedicated, passionate and and supporting people to join that take place at knowledgeable staff. up their efforts to get the best possible outcomes. the centre” Our role is to advise and add value, and this is central to our core purpose as the sports organisation in Wales. do you want to meet Wayne Jenkins Sport Wales National Centre As Assistant Operations Manager at the a few members of National Centre no two days are the same. If not dealing with Olympic federations interested in as a venue for pre- 2012 holding camps I’m part of a great our team? team arranging the various national and international events that take place at the centre. Seeing the new national dojo centre open in October was fantastic. I‘m not long back from a 6000 mile trip to the Arctic Circle where we raised money for Duchene Muscular Dystrophy. I really caught the bug for adventure so its next stop Mount Kilimanjaro!

Nicola Jackson Corporate Support I get to see first hand the benefits our grant Richard Dando People and Programme Development programmes bring to the people of Wales. As a triathlete, currently training for the I help manage the application process for Marathon and fingers crossed competing in the schemes such as Community Chest which World Age Group Triathlon Champs in Budapest recently celebrated its 10th Anniversary. Here at Sport later this year, I understand the great benefits Visiting projects across Wales gave me a sport can bring. That’s why I love managing great insight into what the scheme has Wales we feel that the Young Ambassadors Wales project which achieved in the last decade. recognises and rewards young sports leaders I am a bit of a gym bunny myself and our most valued who are in turn inspiring the next generation of definitely notice the benefits that being assets are our budding sport stars. physically active have brought me. Race for people. Fitness levels are not the only things which have Life is probably the biggest event I’ve entered; been boosted – involvement in major events I managed to run 3K in about ½ hour without such as the UK School Games means that stopping which I was quite chuffed with! confidence levels are sky high and with 2012 on the horizon, who knows what success the future may bring! 10 11

people behind sport wales “We don’t rest on our laurels and are always looking at ways we can do things better”

Sam Sheather Plas Menai I came to Plas Menai in 2003 looking for a career break and trained up as an Instructor. now work Seven years later I’m still here and as Marketing Officer for the centre. My time as an instructor certainly means that I am perfectly placed to promote the centre. There’s always something going on so there are plenty of opportunities to develop new skills but we don’t rest on our laurels and are always looking at ways we can do things better. Regional PR Officers It’s not all nose to the grindstone though – 1 living in North Wales we have an amazing Sarah Mogford South East Wales 2 natural playground on our doorstep and most Simon Grant North Wales 3 South West Wales weekends I can be found in my new sailing Paul Batcup dinghy taking in the amazing welsh countryside. Our job is to ensure that the great work happening across Wales is promoted to all corners of the country as well as raising the profile of sport in our areas. We use everything from Facebook and You Tube to traditional newspapers to get our messages out there.

Highlights so far definitely include generating over £1.2 Kathryn Brown Sports Science million worth of media coverage – pretty phenomenal for a small team. My role as a Performance Nutritionist at Sport Wales means that one day I can be found taking We practice what we preach though and between us we 3 athletes on a tour of their local supermarket, play football 3 times a week, swim and go to the gym, advising them on the food they should and commute to work by bike and are taking up triathlon – shouldn’t be buying, and the next giving quite a sporty bunch I’m sure you’ll agree. cooking lessons to the Welsh squad. I also work alongside other members of the sports science team to improve athlete success. Our work with a track cyclist meant 1 that she went onto to achieve 2 gold medals in 2 the Junior World Track Championships – a very proud moment! It’s not just the athletes I work with though who are a success – I won player of the season for my netball team last year! 12 13

This will mean that young people case studies have the opportunity to be competent and confident to improve throughout their school life – and to continue to be physically active as they grow older. Jane Hutt, Minister for Children, Education and Lifelong Learning, Welsh Assembly Government a new way of learning

Looking Forward Further training of Foundation Phase tutors so the scheme can be delivered in more schools and settings across Wales How does A key aspiration of our work is to The Foundation Phase is a new get every child hooked on sport. approach to learning for children Extending the home-school link it work? Boosting children’s physical from 3-7 years of age with and providing further opportunities understanding and confidence emphasis placed on children for parents to use the ‘Play to Over 1000 resource packs produced will stand them in good stead learning by doing. Children are Learn’ principles at home. to want to take part in sport given more opportunities to gain and distributed to schools and educational through to adulthood, whether first hand experience through settings across Wales it be for fun, to challenge play and active involvement themselves, or to compete for rather than by completing Over 140 tutors trained to date their country. exercises in books. To complement this new 34 physical skills introduced during the approach Sport Wales produced Foundation Phase such as running, jumping, a range of resources including storybooks, interactive CD roms balancing on one foot and leaping. Children and activity cards. are also taught the importance of physical activity to health and wellbeing. 14 15

case studies

Our ‘Shape up on a Shoestring’ These included low-cost exercise campaign was designed to give options, motivational mantras to the Welsh public all the essential help slim down waistlines and tools needed to maintain healthy eating hints and tips a healthy lifestyle - without from our friends at the Food breaking the bank. Standards Agency.

biting back at the credit crunch

Key messages It is possible to keep fit on a budget There are lots of easy ways to get active Sport Wales can offer sound advice and guidance on cost effective ways to be fit and live a healthy lifestyle Physical activity will help you look and feel better Healthy eating is an important part of achieving a healthy lifestyle

Results

Our fitness and 200+ Over £100,000 healthy eating followers on advertising value videos were our dedicated equivalent in terms watched over Facebook of media coverage 1300 times on page including a

You Tube 10 week series in the South Wales Echo 16 17

case studies

Elite sport is at the forefront of what we do here at Sport Wales. So we’ve been working on a few projects to improve our support service for our elite athletes.

raising the bar for high performance

latest technology can really throwing Welsh judo make the difference headfirst into London 2012 The sports science support we provide to our A new chapter for judo in Wales was marked aspiring athletes could make the difference in October 2009 as the doors officially opened between who crosses the line first. to the new £1.1 million National Judo Centre. With 2012 in mind, a re-vamp to our Sport The state-of-the-art dojo has already helped Science Suite was completed in Spring 2010 to cultivate judo talents of the future and to ensure that elite athletes are benefiting medal hopefuls for London 2012 and beyond. from today’s most sophisticated technology. Later this year our newest addition to the sports science suite, a hydrotherapy pool will also arrive. These developments are part of our long-term strategy ensuring that Sport Wales is recognized as the centre for high performance sport in Wales! 18 19

case studies

We work closely with all 22 local authorities The heart of the LAPA approach: across Wales to get as many people as A delivery plan which includes national highlights so far possible physically active. However, our programmes such as: diverse communities and infrastructures • Dragon Sport mean that what works in one area, may not • 5x60 work in another. That’s why we developed • PE and School Sport Local Authority Partnership Agreements • Free Swimming (LAPAs) – to provide local solutions to • Community Chest local issues. 84 as well as projects that allow local authorities A Trampolining Club has to address their own local issues. Agreements22 in place with all been set up in Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Centre offering 22 local authorities in Wales 6 sessions a week with 84 children taking part one size doesn’t always fit all! 3 The ‘Cheer Flintshire’ Programme has trained 31 leaders and 32 Level 2 cheerleading coaches over the 726 past 2 years and created The number of children learning to swim in 3 new clubs Haverfordwest Leisure Centre has increased from 450 to 726 in the past year 20 21

case studies

The results of both our Active Adults and Active Young Peoples surveys highlighted that although there is still work to be done, the future is certainly bright in terms of the health of the nation. Both surveys provide an unrivalled insight into the patterns of sports participation across the population of Wales and monitor progress against key measures such as sports club participation, club membership and leisure centre usage. things

are definitely key highlights: Active Young People • 77% of pupils take part in extra curricular sport and the gender gap is closing with 76% of girls taking part compared to on the up! 77% of boys. • Sports clubs participation is on the up with 76% of pupils taking part in sport Who’s involved? with a club. • Sports pupils most likely to take part in Active Young People include rounder’s, athletics, football, tennis and . Survey – 15,000 pupilsboth active adults from 416 schools, • 56% of adults have taken part in physical activity in the last 4 weeks primary and secondary. • 62% of males participate and 51% of females Active Adults – 22,000 • 16% of adults are members of a sports club

participants all contacted the next step at their households. With over a decades worth of trend data available we are perfectly placed to shape both our work and also the work of our partners to ensure that we get more people physically active. We will use this information to inform our strategic planning and hopefully the results of this work will be obvious to see in the next survey results. 22 23

“This campaign to get case studies schools more involved in improving our health

Our first ever pan-Wales PR campaign kicked and fitness and in turn, off in September 2009 with Time for Action hopefully helping to celebrating and championing schools which maximise the usage of their sports facilities tackle obesity, really for the benefits of the wider community. is a great idea”

Dr Richard Lewis, Welsh Secretary, British Medical Association

“This latest campaign from Sport Wales highlights what can be done to provide a variety of opportunities for children and young people. A number of inspiring projects have been highlighted for their work in opening the doors of schools to children and young people, providing them with a safe place to meet and play with their friends”

Keith Towler, Children’s Commissioner for Wales

time for

Schools across Wales have action a key role to play in providing opportunities. Schools like Porth County Community School A key driver behind the success of the in Rhondda Cynon Taff who have opened campaign was the engagement with non- Steve Bowden, Head Teacher at Porth their doors 7 days a week to the young people traditional partners such as the Children’s County Community School certainly of the Valleys who are provided with 52 free Commissioner for Wales and the British activities a week including aqua aerobics and Medical Association who all fully endorsed believes this is the case. canoeing. Six other schools in the county the campaign. “Porth is in no-man’s-land in terms of borough now offer a similar scheme leading We predominantly used traditional press to 85,342 people taking part in 2007/8 , channels but also worked alongside health, access to leisure services so it makes including 18,000 at Porth. education and news correspondents sense that we are the heartbeat Or Flint High School who work with Flint resulting in coverage across 30 different Leisure Centre to provide evening and outlets ranging from broadcast to print, of the community” weekend physical recreation opportunities online to radio and generated over £26,000 for youngsters and the wider community. of coverage for the campaign. 24 25

case studies

young ambassadors lead the way to success

“Since becoming at a glance a Young Ambassador The Young Ambassador Wales initiative is an exciting project that aims to recognise my communication and reward committed sports leaders with further training and development. That way skills have improved they can inspire others to participate in sport using London 2012 as inspiration. dramatically” looking ahead highlights to date The first Young Ambassador Wales National Nathan Williams, Conference will be held in October 2010 at Nine pilot Young Ambassadors from Cardiff, Whitchurch High School the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. Newport and were chosen to “I feel I have help out at the UK School Games. Not only The conference will provide Young have they helped to launch the initiative in become more Ambassadors with information on their roles Swansea, they presented at the Partnership leading up to 2012, as well as help on how to Leaders Conference and have even taken part independent carry out and support their role across their in the Commonwealth Games Torch Relay. as a Young local authority. A network of adiStars Young Ambassador’s Ambassador” (sponsored by Adidas) will be based in every secondary school in Wales. Alir Amir, Cardiff High School Their role, along with the Gold Young Ambassadors, will be to inspire their peers in schools and communities to participate in sport and to live by the Olympic and Paralympics values. 26 27

case studies “Rugby is fun, and it is really After being rolled out to every secondary “Having the older girls school in Wales, the 5x60 programme is at good that we as girls get the the forefront of our aim to get every child present helps to keep the opportunity to play. There are hooked on sport for life. youngers girls involved 35 of us who play ranging from and is the key to drop off year 7 to sixth form, and the and drop out of activities” sixth formers make sure we Cerys, 5x60 Officer stay involved” Non, year 8

5 x 60’s recipe for success

This year the programme has seen Dance is also extremely popular across the youngsters not only taking part but also country with more young people getting getting involved in leading their own sports involved with leading and choreographing sessions, organising competitions, managing dance routines for local and national teams, promoting events and umpiring. competition. Not only are they physically active but their also developing transferable skills such as leadership which will stand them in good stead for the future. In one West Wales School, girls touch rugby, organised by sixth formers, is proving to be a great success. Three sessions run each week with different age groups taking part and all the sessions are run by the schools young leaders. The sixth form leaders inspire the other girls to get involved leading to “The 5x60 programme is good varied competitions. because in some sports when girls get to years 10 and 11 they feel they are a little bit too cool to join a sports club. When the girls see that with touch rugby they can compete in places like Llanelli, Cardiff and even Rosslyn Park in London where they may have to stay over night they really get involved” Rhys, 5x60 Officer 28 29

year in 2009 pictures

w May Welsh language drop in centres announced Drop in centres to increase sporting opportunities through the medium of Welsh are announced by Sport Wales and Urdd Gobaith Cymru.

April Community Chest 10th Anniversary Minster endorses the NSPCC Wrexham Disability Community Chest celebrates its 10th Framework for Children in Sport Riding School Anniversary with over £9 million awarded Welsh Assembly Government Minister Clwyd Special Riding Centre in Wrexham to community sport in Wales. Jane Hutt endorses a new framework for receives a Sportsmatch award to get safeguarding children in sport, jointly developed children with special needs into the by NSPCC Cymru/Wales and Sport Wales. saddle. 30 31 June Time for Action September saw the launch of Sport Wales’ September campaign encouraging the wider usage of school sport facilities.

Lord Coe celebrates New rugby centre 5x60 success of excellence Seb Coe, Chairman of the London 2012 organising committee takes time out to September Sport Wales invests £1.5 million of lottery celebrate the success of the 5x60 scheme in funding into a new WRU National Centre the Vale of Glamorgan of Excellence providing training and back-up facilities already being hailed as unrivalled in world rugby. Golf Centres of Excellence open October With the Ryder Cup in Newport on the horizon, the Golf Union of Wales Regional Centres of Excellence in Angelsey, Newport, Llanelli and the Vale of Glamorgan are completed. National Dojo Opening October saw the doors officially open at the new National Judo Centre at the Sport Wales National Centre 32 33

November Shape up on a Shoestring Sport Wales helped the nation win the battle of the bulge that’s stretching waistlines and budgets to breaking point, through the Shape 2010 up on a Shoestring campaign. The campaign used both press and social media to provide a series of fitnes tips, exercise videos and nutritional advice to the people of Wales. February

Coach of the Year The man at the helm of welsh –Paul John – scoops the top honour at the New Chair for Sport Wales Coach of the Year awards. There were also winners in 5 other categories including Former Welsh football intertnational, Female coach and Coach to Disabled People. Professor Laura McAllister, becomes the new Chair of Sport Wales.

December

North Wales Tennis Centre revamp A major revamp of North Wales Tennis Centre in Wrexham provides world class facilities for Wimbledon wanabees.

Jonathan Edwards visits Wales March Olympic triple jump champion and London Change 4 Life 2012 Board Member Jonathan Edwards visits Pencoed Gymnastics Club to see how £29,000 launches in Wales of funding from Sport Wales is helping the March saw the launch of an ambitious club spring into action. advertising campaign by the Welsh Assembly Government, challenging people to lead more active lives and develop better eating habits. 34 35

looking forward A look at the sporting future certainly brings A look at the sporting future certainly set them. Our Elite Sport Strategy brings a feeling of excitement and will focus resources on delivering a feeling of excitement anticipation. maximum success - rising to the We will be known for the first time challenges set by the Welsh Assembly and anticipation. as Sport Wales. But while we will Government’s Performance & have a new name, our dedication and Excellence review. After all, we want commitment to sporting success will to be a nation of champions. remain as driven as ever. A six year strategy to deliver more Our new brand will bring a common coaches and better coaches in Wales vision for sport in Wales. To ‘unite a is set to be another key milestone. proud sporting nation’ our work will be 180,000 Importantly, there will be a joint 700,000 two-fold – to increase participation and approach to raising the standards Dragon Sport sessions registrations improve performance. Together with and status of coaching. Dedicated opportunities our partners we will be aspiring to annually in disability ‘get every child hooked on sport for A new national campaign, called sport in Wales life’ and ‘create a nation of champions’. Behind Every Star, is planned to Sport matters to so many

Enhancements to the free swimming Now that figure is almost a staggering people and defines our initiative will provide evidence of this. 700,000. Registrations at Dragon Sport We are acutely aware of the financial sessions are hitting 180,000 annually. climate and we must be smart in our Achivements to be shouted about. national pride. approach. Our work through the local Sport matters to so many people and authority partnership agreements and defines our national pride. Let’s make delivery plans for national governing Wales proud. The next few years will expose young highlight the vital role of coaches bodies must continue to think outside people to the biggest ever sustained and encourage more of the public the box, generating local solutions sports promotion campaign to hit any to volunteer. to local issues of demography and generation in Wales. The London 2012 More than ever, opportunities need geography. Olympics, Commonwealth Games in to be available at community clubs in Dr Huw G Jones and other major sporting We have to be innovative in our every part of Wales – in whatever sport Chief Executive events - such as the Ryder Cup – thinking and our delivery to achieve raising enthusiasm and interest to or activity a child wants to take part in. our maximum and continue to excel as fever pitch. After all, we are in the business a sporting nation. of getting every child hooked on We are in a privileged position to be There are two special anniversaries sport for life. able to use these events to champion to celebrate this year. It is 10 years every aspect of our national sporting In our partnerships we must stand since the community disability sport landscape. Our first aim is to be quickly together to look at new ways we can programme was put in place, and 10 out of the starting blocks. raise the bar. years since the start of the Dragon Some ambitious medal targets for With the Welsh Assembly Government Sport programme. Back then there future games will raise expectations we will continue our work towards were only around 1,000 dedicated and we must work hard to achieve key objectives in One Wales, Climbing opportunities annually in disability them with the sports that help us Higher and Creating an Active Wales. sport in Wales. “Since becoming a Young Ambassador my communication skills have improved dramatically” Nathan Williams, Whitchurch High School

“We don’t rest on our laurels and are always looking at ways we can “Rugby is fun, and it is really do things better” good that we as girls get the opportunity to play. There are 35 of us who play ranging from year 7 to sixth form, and the sixth formersstay involved” make sure we Non, year 8

“This latest campaign from Sport Wales highlights what can be done to provide a variety of opportunities for children and young people. A number of inspiring projects have been highlighted for their work in opening the doors of schools to children and young people, providing them with a safe place to meet and play with their friends”

Keith Towler, Children’s Commissioner for Wales