Established in 2018 as a fully registered charity working in strong partnership with Cardiff Rugby, the Cardiff Rugby Community Foundation works with people of all ages throughout the region, many from marginalised and disadvantaged communities. The Foundation provides a variety of new ways to engage with sport in order to build personal well-being and strengthen communities, aiming to making a difference both socially and economically.

As part of the Foundation’s activities, Cardiff Rugby hosts a range of programmes that provide opportunities to people from all backgrounds, who face a variety of challenges on a daily basis. The Raising Aspirations programme, for example, is a nine-week initiative designed for disadvantaged pupils in Years 8 and 9 that helps guide and support them in attaining new goals and building a sense of direction for the near future. During the sessions, activities explore topics such as communication skills, goal setting, leadership and career pathways. The programme develops pupil engagement and bridges the gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers, raising aspirations for career and education prospects.

“Recent studies show that global and social issues have had a significant impact in South Wales, so Cardiff Rugby is passionate about improving lives in our region, irrespective of age, ability or gender, to support the community,” explained Nadine Griffiths, Cardiff Rugby Foundation Director.

According to recent reports, aspirations of young people are fairly low in the South Wales region. Research conducted by the Children’s Commissioner for Wales found that around 30 per cent of children in Wales are currently living in poverty. Children from these lower-income families may lack access to essentials, such as educational resources, as well as extracurricular activities like sports and learning opportunities.

Studies also show that students’ aspirations have been negatively impacted by issues, such as cost of living rises. A study from the Co-op and children’s charity Barnardo’s, found that students aged between ten and 25 in Wales were almost twice as likely to worry about job opportunities than those in other, more affluent areas. The study suggested that daily priorities, such as covering basic needs, overtook traditional goals such as achieving a dream job role.

“As part of our STEM outreach programme, we aim to support parents and schools by providing resources that support the curriculum, giving students free access to experiences that can broaden their horizons,” explained Simon Biggs, Early Careers Manager at Renishaw. “It’s clear from research, as well as anecdotal experience from both Renishaw and Cardiff Rugby, that we must do more to support students in our local area, and encourage them to pursue what interests them, regardless of background.”

Renishaw has been an official partner of the Cardiff Rugby Community Foundation since 2019. As part of the partnership, Renishaw has developed a programme of activities to support the Raising Aspirations initiative, inviting students to its South Wales facility to learn about career opportunities in engineering.

At the most recent event, hosted at Renishaw’s Miskin facility, 60 students from different schools attended to learn about engineering. Students were given a tour of the company’s product display area, viewing the variety of products to which the Miskin site contributes. The STEM Outreach team then shared the potential pathways into engineering, highlighting early careers opportunities, including work experience, placements, apprenticeships and graduate schemes, and how students can earn while they learn. Finally, the students took part in a hands-on STEM workshop, learning how to make their own LED torches to take home after the event and share their experiences with their families.

“By partnering with Cardiff Rugby Community Foundation on programme’s like Raising Aspirations, we can provide opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience and develop skills that complement the school curriculum,” explained Biggs. “In areas where resources may be scarce and stereotypes abound, it’s crucial to provide encouragement and support, especially in fields such as engineering, that have traditionally been seen as reserved only for those from more affluent upbringings.”

“This programme is a great opportunity to level the playing field and ensure that everyone, no matter their background, has equal access to different career and sport options. Engineering and rugby may appear to be an unlikely pairing for the programme, but they share a lot of overlapping skills, such as teamwork, problem solving and adaptability, making it a perfect combination,” continued Biggs.

Cardiff Rugby engages with around 60,000 people a year through its various programmes that focus on inclusion, education and employment. Renishaw has supported a range of activities in the past, such as hosting STEM activity workshops and supporting rugby camps for different student groups.

“The generous support from Renishaw enables us to get into the heart of our communities and really help to provide opportunities for local people,” continued Griffiths. “This programme really does make a difference; it enables us to mentor students and showcase future educational and employment avenues for their pathway after secondary education. A lot of the students we work with have low aspirations, many from marginalised backgrounds — this programme gives them the confidence and support to aim high and follow their dreams, helping them make positive life choices in their future career pathway.”

“Since Renishaw purchased the Miskin site in 2011, we have made significant investments in the facility, and we’re currently investing £65 million to double the capacity of the site to increase in-house manufacturing in the area,” explained Chris Pockett, Head of Communications for Renishaw. “As a significant employer in South Wales, with around 700 staff located at Miskin, we believe it’s very important to engage with local communities, especially in education, skills development and encouraging inclusion and diversity. By partnering with other organisations that share similar values, such as Cardiff Rugby, we hope to continue expanding our efforts.”

At a celebration attended by supporters of the new centre, Sir Andrew Strauss said, “This new indoor training centre is an outstanding facility and will provide young cricketers with the opportunity to train year-round and hone their skills for success on the pitch. It truly is world-class and will, I am sure, help develop young talent for years to come.”

As well as providing Merchant Taylors’ cricketers with one of the best school cricket facilities in the country, the new cricket centre will transform indoor cricket provision in the region. The centre is the base for Middlesex County Cricket Club’s indoor training and the School regularly hosts international touring sides.

Middlesex County Cricket Club’s Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Cornish, said “The Centre is an elite-level facility, giving our professional players an outstanding base for their pre-season preparations. On our first day of training, one of our extremely experienced international opening batsmen, declared it the best artificial surface he had ever trained on.”

The London and the East region’s women’s team, The Sunrisers, hold weekly training sessions at Merchant Taylors’ in addition to over 17 local cricket clubs who have used the cricket centre to date.

The building is named in recognition of Julian Hill, Merchant Taylors’ alumnus and keen cricketer whose generous £1million legacy made the project possible together with other donations from members of the Merchant Taylors’ community. In fact, the cricket centre is a uniquely philanthropic initiative whereby lettings income profits will go towards funding bursary places at the School.

“Since our foundation in 1561, Merchant Taylors’ has been dedicated to providing the best educational opportunities possible to children with talent. Not only will this cricket centre provide first class training facilities for our pupils, but it will change lives by enabling us to further expand our bursary programme”, said Simon Everson, Head Master.

With five lanes – three for fast bowling; two for spin – the cricket centre has the most advanced, ECB approved, playing surface and lighting available. The unique system of netting makes the space flexible and adaptable. There is a dedicated area for fielding and catching practice comprised of softer turf allowing diving and replicating the outfield. A range of bowling and fielding machines, including two Merlyn spin bowling machines, is available, and analysis equipment is available for immediate player feedback enabling self-coaching.

For schools and clubs wishing to book the facility they should email Lettings@mtsn.org.uk or call 01923 845550.

Fed up with having to wear uncomfortable and ill-fitting cricket clothes usually made solely for boys, Honor and Cat Black came up with the designs for Maiden to help girls feel more confident on the cricket field. More than just a brand, Maiden is a declaration that cricket – with all its passion and excitement, is for everyone, played at the very top level by both boys and girls, with over 100 million women and girls playing cricket worldwide.

But the clothing worn by young girls starting out or training each week is not made for them, often hand-me-downs from older brothers or boys’ kits that don’t take into account a girl’s curves, comfort or style.

Honor and Cat Black are on a mission to reshape the future of female cricket with their innovative designs, meticulously crafted to girls’ unique needs – both in terms of function and fashion, making girls feel confident on the pitch, encouraging them to play and look their best. The apparel is both stylish and comfortable, ensuring it won’t let you down – a common fear for girls who regularly have to wear whites or sports kit.

Honor Black, 16, Co-Founder of Maiden says: “It’s been a journey of passion and dedication. Cricket was a game we fell in love with as kids. But every time we wore those oversized jerseys and trousers, it felt like we were borrowing someone else’s dream. With Maiden, we want every girl to know that this dream is theirs, too.

“We put a lot of thought and detail into each of the clothing’s designs and have had really positive feedback from girls who have tried them so far. We want to champion girls’ cricket; highlight what a fantastic sport it is in instilling confidence in young women and in building a community of girls supporting girls, championing others’ success and looking and feeling good along with way.”

Cat Black, 14, Co-Founder of Maiden adds: “Maiden is more than just clothing. It’s about creating a sense of belonging; a community where girls, whether they are players or supporters, feel empowered and seen.”

The launch range includes Mid-on Tops, Pace Pullovers, Nightwatch and Test Match Trousers together with prices ranging from £35. Ethically made in Portugal, the products are sustainable and durable. The girls strongly feel that they have a responsibility to be protective towards the environment for future generations of female cricketers.

Maiden are currently on the lookout for Maiden ambassadors – young female cricketers keen to wear the apparel on the field and inspire other girls to play and look their best. Those interested in becoming an ambassador please fill out a form here.

The Kit Scheme, run in partnership with Nike, aims to encourage more young girls across England and Wales to participate in football and builds upon the 7,000 free football kits that have already been given away via the Premier League Primary Stars schools programme since 2017.

Premier League Primary Stars uses the appeal of the Premier League and professional football clubs to inspire children to be active and develop essential life skills. It is available to every primary school in England and Wales, inspiring girls and boys aged 5-11 in the classroom, the playground and on the sports field.

The programme supports teachers with free, downloadable, curriculum-linked resource packs and activities across PE, PSHE, Maths and English. More than 18,700 primary schools across England and Wales have taken part in Premier League Primary Stars to date.

Nick Perchard, Head of Community and Football Policy at the Premier League said: “We are pleased to be able to launch the Premier League Primary Stars Kit Scheme again in partnership with Nike, this time specifically to support and encourage more young girls to get involved in football.

“The Kit Scheme builds on the League’s ongoing support of women’s and girls’ football, having provided funding to aid the expansion of The FA’s Emerging Talent Centres and pathways for girls aged eight to 16. We hope as many schools as possible take up this opportunity.”

All teaching staff registered to Premier League Primary Stars, and who work with primary school pupils aged 5-11 in England and Wales, can apply for the Kit Scheme. Applications will need to include details on each school’s commitment to girls’ football and how the new kit will support an increase in girls’ participation in the sport.

Dan Burrows, Senior Director of Social & Community Impact at Nike said: “Nike is delighted to partner with the Premier League to launch the Premier League Primary Stars Kit Scheme. Our work with partners like the Premier League is vital to removing cultural, social and economic barriers to participation, so all kids, especially girls, have an opportunity to benefit from play and sport. Together, we can create an active next generation and a healthier and more equitable future for all.”
Successful applicants for the Premier League Primary Stars Kit Scheme will receive a set of Nike Park Short Sleeve shirts, shorts and socks (13 x outfield sets and x 1 goalkeeper set) – with a range of colours available.

The playing kit will be embellished with Premier League on the front of the shirt, No Room For Racism on the sleeve and will be numbered between one and 14 on the back, with Nike 2.0 hijabs also available as required.

Teachers can register for the Premier League Primary Stars Kit Scheme on www.PLPrimaryStars.com ahead of the application window closing on Friday 9 June 2023. Successful applicants will receive their kit during the Spring term 2024.

Premier League Primary Stars provides teachers in England and Wales access to free downloadable curriculum-linked resources covering English, Maths, PE and PSHE, helping to support children’s learning both in the classroom and on the sports field.

Pupils at Martins Wood Primary School in Stevenage, where Mr. Brown is a teacher, received a Premier League Primary Stars assembly, learning about the League’s core values of being ambitious, inspiring, connected and fair before pupils could have their photo taken with the Premier League Trophy.

From there, the Premier League Trophy visited Mr. Brown’s Hazel Class, where Year 4 pupils discussed allyship, listened on as they had questions on diversity answered by Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira, before they designed a football shirt to promote diversity in a team.

Commenting on the free resources available for teachers, Mr. Brown said: “All the Premier League’s resources on anti-discrimination are fantastic.

“The lessons where I’ve based them on Premier League Primary Stars resources have been some of the most powerful lessons that I’ve had.

“Being a person of colour, now a teacher of colour, having those conversations a lot more and having them more in the classroom have been [beneficial] to me.

“Not only are [the resources] easy to deliver, but they also give you that starting point to open the door to what can be tricky conversations.

“The resources are really fun, they’re really engaging. You get the children out of their seats, you get the children being creative, you get the children to really think about those difficult conversations and how they can apply the values from them into real life.”

Mr. Brown is one of 8,900 teachers who has helped engage more 267,000 young people in primary schools across England and Wales, using Premier League Primary Stars No Room For Racism resources.

The free lesson plans and activities available via PLPrimaryStars.com cover equality, diversity and inclusion, allyship and stereotypes, encouraging important conversations at both Key Stages 1 and 2 (five to 11-year-olds).

Take a look at Premier League Primary Stars No Room For Racism, Racism and Inclusion, resources here.

You can hear more from Kit and pupils at Martin Wood Primary School here.

Since launching in March 2019, No Room For Racism has brought together the League’s work against racial discrimination and the Action Plan is embedded across all Premier League activity.

Over the last five seasons, match rounds have highlighted the ongoing action undertaken by the League and clubs and send a clear message to fans, urging them to take action when they see or hear racism and the work done via Premier League Primary Stars plays a key part in the process of educating pupils about what it means to be an ally and what can be done to end racism.

Premier League Primary Stars offers a range of resources, mapped to National Curriculum topics in English and PSHE, which aim to educate pupils about the negative impacts of racism and what can be done to tackle it. Visit plprimarystars.com for more information.

Only 45% of young people are meeting the Chief Medical Officer’s guidelines which recommend taking part in sports or physical activity for an average of 60 minutes or more every day (Sport England, 2021). Alarmingly, one in seven children is obese by the time they start school, increasing to one in four by year six (NHS, 2021).

The new partnership builds on Inspiring Learning and Youth Sport Trust’s previous collaborative work when Inspiring Learning sponsored the charity’s 2022 Conference. Going forwards, all Inspiring Learning centres will have a fundraising target where the Inspiring Learning teams can devise their own ways to raise money for the charity. In addition, Inspiring Learning will continue to develop their own content and ideas to share with the Youth Sports Trust to help broaden and build the development and adaptability of young people. With some children struggling socially and emotionally following the COVID-19 pandemic, providing pathways to enable positive adaptability and the tools to overcome challenges is an important goal that Inspiring Learning and the Youth Sport Trust share.

Alex Williamson, Chief Executive Officer of Inspiring Learning has said: “Our long-standing relationship with the Youth Sport Trust has been further substantiated through our new partnership. Inspiring Learning embodies the importance of being active in the outdoors across all our educational programmes and we’re delighted to be fundraising for such a life-changing organisation.

“Our diverse range of active residential, holiday camp and apprenticeship programmes, are designed to modify individuals’ behaviour, equipping them with the skills to rise to challenges, to become more adaptable, and to work collaboratively, enabling them to thrive in a changing world.”

Jen Rouse, Commercial and Fundraising Director at the Youth Sport Trust, said: “Following the impact of the pandemic and at a time when 18% of children aged 7-16 have a probable mental health disorder, these are difficult times facing young people and the challenge for charities like ours is great. This fantastic partnership with Inspiring Learning will be a huge boost to support our work post pandemic and to take urgent action to support young people most in need.

“We strongly believe sport has the power to change young lives, we are proud to be chosen as Kingswood’s charity partner for 2023.”

Inspiring Learning launched its fundraising efforts this autumn and will continue fundraising efforts at its various centres throughout the UK for the next year. For more information on Inspiring Learning and its centres, please visit www.inspiring-learning.com and www.youthsporttrust.org to see more on the YST.

PE teachers, school senior leaders, business managers and governors can find out about some of the leading issues in primary education at the Active Primary Schools Conference 2022, to be held at Millennium Point on Friday November 25^th.

Organised by award-winning Birmingham-based sector leaders Aspire Active Education Group for representatives from primary schools “to gain knowledge, confidence and a bank of actionable strategies”, the conference, which has been held since 2017, will see keynote speeches from industry experts, practical and theory-based workshops and a marketplace full of innovative resources and services.

Among the topics to be covered in the keynote speeches will be a presentation of the impact on education and the wider region from the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, the biggest showcase event to be held in the UK’s second city in generations.

Organisers say a record 1.5 million spectators bought tickets for the event, making it the most popular Commonwealth Games ever to be hosted in the UK, while a total of 28.6 million tuned into the Games on the BBC.

Ashley Jones, Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Manager for Swim England, will give another keynote presentation on the drive to get more primary school pupils engaged with swimming and water safety. Will Roberts, Chief Operating Officer at the Youth Sport Trust, will give the third keynote on getting young people active entitled ‘The critical ingredient: ensuring physical literacy for young people in challenging times’.

Other topics will include ways of PE assessment, maximising playground engagement strategies to embed physically active learning in schools, primary dance and outdoor adventurous activities.

Aspire co-founder Paul Griffiths said: “We are delighted to have a high-calibre roll call of speakers at the Active Primary Schools Conference 2022 to tackle some of the biggest issues facing educators.

“Having seen thousands of athletes from 72 nations and territories compete in the largest-ever integrated programme of para sport over 11 days at the Commonwealth Games, it is great to have the team join us to update delegates on the legacy.

“Each year we bring together the best of our sector to help attendees boost the quality of primary PE, sport and physical activity (PESSPA) to inspire children to be more active, more often. We want to continue to expand our reach to support as many primary schools as possible to raise the standards of PESSPA.”

Aspire Active Education Group played their own part in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, delivering 97 days of activities to 65 schools in just eight weeks through the ‘Bring the Power’ school sport workshop programme, which was rolled out across the West Midlands to get young people moving ahead of the event.

Based in Spitfire Road, Birmingham, and with 56 team members, Aspire provide innovative delivery and training services along with education resources with an aim to “end physical inactivity forever” and help one million children move by 2025.

Founded in 2005, Aspire work with nearly 200 schools nationwide, providing PE, sport and physical activity support to get children moving. Aspire have won five awards since November including two Business Desk business awards, two Greater Birmingham Apprenticeship Awards and a Lloyds Bank Small Business 2021 prize.

To register for a conference ticket for the event, which is sponsored by the PE Hub and Aspire:ED, go to: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/aspiresports/746086

Coleg y Cymoedd has been awarded the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) dual career accreditation which is given to institutions that demonstrate a commitment to supporting young sportspeople to follow a dual career route – allowing them to reach their potential in education while achieving success in their sport. The college joins Swansea and Cardiff Metropolitan universities as one of only three Welsh higher education institutions with this status.

To mark its achievement, the college hosted a launch event at its Nantgarw campus which welcomed student athletes and their parents as well as guests from partner sports and education organisations to hear about the scheme and what it will mean for future learners. The evening included a talk from special guest Helen Phillips MBE (pictured centre), Non-Executive Chair of Commonwealth Games Wales.

Alun Davies, Dual Career Lifestyle adviser at Coleg y Cymoedd said: “The TASS accreditation is a prestigious recognition for the college and we are so proud to see that the strategies we have implemented to support our student athletes are being celebrated.

“We pride ourselves on being a place where learners’ academic and sporting goals are both fully supported, enabling them to gain qualifications alongside their sports pursuits without compromising either.

“Becoming a TASS dual career accredited site will help place Coleg y Cymoedd on the competitive path with other sporting institutes in Wales and across the border. The accreditation will also enable us to continue building connections with local sporting institutions and attract a greater number of talented athletes to the college in the future.”

Following a rigorous assessment process, Coleg y Cymoedd was awarded the accreditation in acknowledgement of the various initiatives and extra support it provides to athletes studying at its campuses. Its flexible academic policies include arranging catch up sessions with teaching staff when learners’ sports clash with lessons, access to online notes and additional resources, and even rescheduling deadlines or exam dates in exceptional circumstances.

31 talented student athletes will be selected to take part in the TASS programme at Coleg y Cymoedd, covering a diverse range of sports including but not limited to rugby, fencing, karate, gymnastics, football, netball, athletics, swimming, gymnastics, and taekwondo.

Among these learners are Welsh junior world champions who have represented Wales at the Commonwealth Games and GB Performance Squads. Each of them will receive one-one academic and lifestyle support from a qualified practitioner, with tailored plans based on their individual needs, which will depend on the nature of their sport.

They will also have access to top training facilities and advice around areas like nutrition and strength and conditioning, as well as personal development workshops focused on developing their skills and resilience.

Guy Taylor, TASS National Director, said: “TASS Dual Career Accreditation Scheme is an important measure to ensure that talented athletes are allowed the flexibility to pursue an education and enjoy a more well-rounded life. Through the programme, learners acquire skills and formal qualifications that are needed to help them find alternative careers, either alongside their sporting activities or once their sporting days are over.

“It’s important to us to recognise those institutions who place precedence on their athletes’ education. We’re delighted to be awarding TASS Dual Career Accreditation to Coleg y Cymoedd in recognition of the great policies they have in place to offer an effective and lasting dual career structure within the college.”

NFL Flag is the starting point for a possible journey into playing football professionally. As well as the regular football tournaments, there is the opportunity to qualify for a regional final played at Tottenham Hotspur in October 2022 during half time of the NFL Pro regular season game. The winners of that match will have the option to go to Florida to play the American finalists.

Becoming a regional Hub for the NFL is part of Windlesham’s drive to offer a more diverse range of sports to its pupils and to support the wider local pupil community. Pupils at the West Sussex prep school are being taught NFL Flag Football as part of the new curriculum programme and from a coaching perspective, this has been rolled out to a selection of Windlesham staff who are now fully certified.

Adrian Wallis-Adams, NFL Coach for Windlesham House explained, “Our goal, is to bring the local school community together, with an emphasis on state schools. We have launched our own League and other schools are able to play as part of this as well as enrol in the NFL Flag Football curriculum programme.”

Any school in the area can join the programme and being a co-educational sport, it has a much wider appeal. Certification is delivered through a one-day recognised PE staff training course. The NFL provides all of the training and curriculum material as well as free equipment. There is also no ongoing obligation or direct costs if you change your mind.

Windlesham is also planning some trips to support its local American football team, The Sussex Thunder, based at Sussex University, and has registered the school to attend the NFL regular season games, of which there are three scheduled for the Autumn of this year at Tottenham Hotspur and Wembley Stadium, and two further games are being played in Germany during November 2022.

Ben Evans, Headmaster at Windlesham House School said, “Following assessment by the NFL, we are delighted to have been appointed as a regional hub for the NFL. Diversity in sport has never been more important and this fun league provides both our pupils and the local community with some wonderful opportunities to train at a high level and to take their talent further afield.”

For local schools interested in getting involved, they are invited to send two PE teachers for training and will receive a 1st 4 Sport accredited qualification in NFL Flag Football as well as 10 official balls, 30 official flag belts, 6-week NFL Flag Football curriculum pack, and the opportunity to join the official NFL Flag League.

Mr Wallis-Adams concluded, “Windlesham hosted the first of many NFL Flag Football training sessions for PE staff back in March, which was hugely popular and very over-subscribed. We have already put a further date in our diary for September this year.”

Launched in 2017 and available to every primary school in England and Wales, Premier League Primary Stars uses the appeal of the Premier League and professional football clubs to support pupils in the classroom, the playground and on the sports field.

Premier League Primary Stars’ range of more than 640 curriculum-linked activities support teachers to build their pupils’ confidence in key areas from Maths and English to PSHE and Physical Education and can be used off-the-shelf or tailored to suit teachers’ needs. More than 58,000 teachers have downloaded and used the free curriculum-linked resources since the programme began.

To mark the five-year anniversary, the Premier League is launching the Active Summer Challenge. This brand new initiative will challenge pupils to find five ways to keep active during the summer holidays, a time when fitness levels can drop. The new resources are now available for teachers to download for free on the Premier League Primary Stars website.

Exclusive content featuring Premier League players, club coaches and experts has been created to support teachers to inspire pupils deliver impactful PE lessons. Nine out of 10 teachers believe that they have seen an increase in pupils’ enjoyment of sport and physical activity linked to the programme.

In addition to PE, English and Maths resources, Premier League Primary Stars also supports teachers to deliver classroom-based discussions and activities on important societal topics such as anti-discrimination, mental health and gender stereotypes linked to No Room for Racism, Wellbeing Stars, and Rainbow Laces. After using the PSHE resources, 72% said that their pupils understand more about how to challenge prejudice and discrimination and 79% of teachers said their pupils have a better understanding of how to look after their own wellbeing.

Natalie Sutton, School Manager at Sandfield Close Primary School, said: “The Premier League Primary Stars programme has opened up so many opportunities and doors to us that we wouldn’t have been able to open on our own. We’ve had such a positive experience since joining back in 2018. It is important to measure progress but for me, it is also important to see our pupils expand their thinking and learn about key subjects in a fun and engaging way. It has all been so positive for us as teachers, but more importantly beneficial to the learning of our pupils.”

www.PLPrimaryStars.com