From: Squash Wales [email protected] Subject: Latest news and support for Squash Wales members Date: 15 December 2020 at 10:12 To: [email protected] View this email in your browser Latest news and support 15.12.2020 A Perfect Start Squash Wales piloted the first Futures Squad on Saturday 28th November at Sport Wales National Centre. 16 players from the South November at Sport Wales National Centre. 16 players from the South Wales region had their first opportunity to join a structured Squash Wales Squad. Sally Davies from Maesteg Squash Club and David Cope from Merthyr Squash Club ran the session. The pilot was a great success in providing opportunities for 16 junior players to experience a Squad environment and for Squash Wales coaches to join the Pathway. Players attended from the length and breadth of South Wales. Bridgend, Maesteg, Merthyr, Newport, Llantrisant, Hirwaun, St,Mellons, Fairwater and Rhiwbina all contributed players to the sessions. Feedback from players, parents and coaches has been really positive. Squash Wales will be looking to add more dates for Futures Squads around the country and thus providing further opportunities for players and coaches to enter the Pathway. Any juniors interested in attending a Futures session please email [email protected] or [email protected] . Squash Wales are committed to providing opportunities for players and coaches alike and the Futures Squad plays a vital role in helping us deliver on our aims of increasing the base of players and coaches. Regional Development On Monday the 7th of December, whilst adhering to social distancing rules Sioned Williams, our newly appointed Regional Development Officer, Roy Gingell, Operations Manager and Dave Evans, Performance director travelled up to Wrexham to visit Brymbo Squash Club. The meeting was scheduled to discuss how Squash Wales and Brymbo Squash Club can build on their existing partnership and how Squash Wales can support the club’s future developments. Squash Wales would like to thank Brymbo Squash club for their warm welcome. We are very excited about this partnership and the future developments. The above meeting is one of many meetings currently being held and we hope to schedule more virtual or face to face meetings across Wales in the new Year. Squash Wales are currently on a fact-finding mission to fully understand our current Squash offer across Wales but also understand how Squash Wales can support clubs and local communities going forward. As you may have already heard Squash Wales have welcomed 2 new Regional Development Officers (RDO’s) to the team, Sarah Jones that will cover the South of Wales and Sioned Williams who will cover the North. The RDO’s are responsible for delivering projects and initiatives that will increase the number of people playing Squash across Wales, especially children. Sarah and Sioned are currently in the process of reaching out to all clubs throughout Wales to understand how Squash Wales can support clubs going forward. Squash Wales RDO’s can also help clubs apply for funding from Sport Wales, such as the Beactive Wales fund. If your club would like any help with funding or anything else, please get in touch via the contact details below: Sioned Williams (North) tel: 07376001824 email: [email protected] Sarah Jones (South) tel: 07827876600 email: [email protected] Squash Wales achieves the Insport NGB Ribbon Did you know that Wales has been the most successful Paralympic Nation (per capita) for the past 4 Paralympic cycles? Squash Wales are committed to continuously improving the accessibility of the sport for all and are extremely proud to be recognised by Disability Sport Wales for the work that we have done so far. We look forward to working with you all in the coming year, continuing to deliver high quality, inclusive training that gives all across Wales access to Squash! Dedicated To…St Mellons Squash Club Up and down Wales, our clubs, coaches and volunteers have been supporting their communities during the months of the pandemic. This week – as part of the National Lottery Dedicated To…campaign, we are putting St Mellons Squash Club in the spotlight which has recently been awarded a National Lottery grant from the Sport Wales Be Active Wales Fund. With a growing and committed membership, St Mellons has an impressive track record with its teams flying high at the top of the divisions. Normally, the club bustles with activity. Gareth Grant oversees operations and admits it has been a difficult time: “The last few months have been frustrating but we have done what we can. We have all kept in touch via Whats App and its been a good way to check that people are safe and well. Our membership varies from those in their twenties to those in their seventies who have been shielding.” Meanwhile Gareth has been busy liaising with Squash Wales and staying on top of the guidance: “Because the situation is so fluid, policies and guidance are obviously changing all the time. We opened again in mid-August having completed risk assessments and created a Covid safe environment but then the local lockdowns started.” St Mellons lies on the border of Newport and Cardiff: “We are just inside the Newport border but we are just 200m from Cardiff. “We are just inside the Newport border but we are just 200m from Cardiff. Local lockdowns have meant that our Cardiff members have not been able to play.” Restrictions across Wales remain uncertain over the coming months but the club is ready with hand sanitising stations, PPE, a one way system and signage: “Thanks to the National Lottery, we have been able to create a safe environment. Without it, our members wouldn’t have had the confidence to return in August. We have been able to buy cleaning equipment and all touchpoints are fully wiped down between bookings.” With the help of National Lottery funding, thousands of grassroots sports workers and volunteers from local clubs and organisations across the UK, have been be able to continue to help the nation to remain active, happy and motivated during the Covid-19 pandemic. Thanks to National Lottery players, £30 million is raised every week for good causes, many of which are supporting the most vulnerable in our communities across the UK during the Coronavirus crisis. Squash Wales seeks a new Non-Executive Board Director It is an exciting time at Squash Wales – we are a fast-growing sport gaining in popularity and profile both Nationally and Internationally. To help broaden the skills-base and diversity of the Board we are seeking applicants with skills, competence and significant experience in Human Resources (HR). If this sounds like you, more information can be found here Squash Wales are here to support our members during these difficult times. Squash Wales are here to support our members during these difficult times. Please get in touch with us if you have any concerns or questions. Please distribute this email to all your members within your club. Copyright © 2020 Squash Wales, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: Squash Wales Sport Wales National Ctr Sophia Gardens Cardiff, South Glamorgan CF11 9SW United Kingdom Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. .