Prosiect ROC

During October Half Term, Ceredigion Youth Service delivered a pilot project called ‘Prosiect ROC’ (Rugby Outreach Ceredigion).

The aim of the project was to engage with a wide variety of young people aged 14-19 from across Ceredigion, and offer them opportunities to access training and develop key interpersonal skills through sport, educational activities and employability workshops.

As part of the ‘YourView’ survey, numerous young people were able to voice their opinions regarding different issues and opportunities that are on offer to them in Ceredigion. One significant trend that was evident was that many young people wanted more opportunities to get involved in sport. Therefore, to coincide with the hugely successful Rugby World Cup, this project was established to promote this theme.

Cabinet member for Learning Services, Children and Young People’s Partnership, Councillor Hag Harris, said: “This project’s success is as a result of extensive promotion in all schools in the county, various community groups/ projects, and via numerous youth support services and social media.”

He adds: “The project attracted a great deal of interest, many of the participants were very interested in rugby, others wanted to try something different and to develop skills that would enable them to be more employable.”

Twenty young people from across Ceredigion participated in the three day residential at Gwersyll Llangrannog, with each individual achieving an ASDAN Rugby Short Course accreditation with the majority then going on to completing a Rugby Tag Leader Award with the WRU.

Organised workshops, ranging from ‘how to be more employable’, to ‘mind management’ and ‘Welsh in the workplace’ were delivered during the three days. The group also visited Parc y Scarlets, where they were able to have a tour of the facilities, a skills session by Scarlets community coaches and a Q&A with Scarlets Team Manager Garan Evans.

For more information on how to get involved in projects similar to this in the future please contact Gethin Jones on 01545 572 352 or gethin.jones@ceredigion.gov.uk.