INSPIRATIONAL SPORT LEADERS INSPIRE OTHERS

Sporting champions at a Kidwelly school are leading the way in getting fellow pupils active.

Matthew Williams, Jac Walters, Katelyn Maule-Jones and Chloe Smith of Ysgol y Castell have been encouraging children to try a variety of sports and have even set up two weekly clubs during lunch break. In addition the 11 and 12-year-olds have given their break time to sell fruit and are already planning to set up a Foundation Phase club after Christmas. They also help organise after school sports clubs by promotion of timetables, classroom talks and posters.

The four Yr 6 pupils attended Bronze Young Ambassador training earlier this year as part of the Young Ambassador programme delivered by the council’s sports and leisure team. Part of their role is to encourage and inspire other children in their school to take part in sport and physical activity by running lunchtime clubs. The aim of the programme is to get more people, more active, more often. There are three stages at county level – bronze, silver and gold – that start at primary school age right through to university level. Carmarthenshire student Theo Davies-Lewis is a Platinum Young Ambassador and their voices are heard on sporting matters across Wales.

The executive board member for leisure, Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “The ambassador programme is going from strength to strength across Carmarthenshire and it’s wonderful to see the schoolchildren taking on their roles with such enthusiasm.”

Plans to set up a school council is also on the ambassadors agenda as well as running a competition to design an athletics vest if a sponsor can be found. If you can help, then please contact the school.

The council’s sport and leisure officer, Hayley Lewis said: “The ambassadors are very keen and dedicated as well as being excellent role models for sport. They play a vital part in achieving the county’s vision of getting more people, more active, more often.”