Sport Cardiff volunteers play key part in the 10th Cardiff Half Marathon

On Sunday October 14th, Sport Cardiff was involved once again with the Cardiff Half Marathon providing more than 30 volunteers to support the event.  Despite the 6.30am start the willing team of volunteers gave their time and energy to help ensure that the biggest Cardiff Half Marathon ever went well and was a tremendous success!

 The road race which has become the biggest and most popular in Wales is a top autumn fixture on the running calendar as well as a highlight in the city’s events agenda.

 With a splendid sunny day and a flat, enjoyable and attractive route; the race encompassed some of Cardiff’s most iconic locations.  The event had a central start, right in front of CardiffCastle where the runners were split by times.

The race was officially started by former world record holder and world champion hurdler Colin Jackson, and the wave of runners’ headed off towards to Cardiff City Stadium, the picturesque Penarth Marina and the scenic Cardiff Barrage.  The course continued through CardiffBay, passing the Doctor Who Experience and the NorwegianChurch. The new course then took in the beautiful RoathParkLake before runners headed back to the heart of the city for a big finish at the impressive City Hall. The circuit offered plenty of good vantage points for fans to roar on their loved ones and become a part of the big event. In fact, the whole route was lined by people.

In its 10^th anniversary the race gathered a record number of runners and in just ten years the figures have rapidly increased passing from just under 1,500 runners in 2003 to 18,000 ten years later giving this competition a great vibe and making it a fun way to practice sport with friends, family or just for a personal achievement.

For a lot of people this was a great occasion to encourage the whole family to participate in a race no matter their fitness level. The Barnardo’s Cardiff Family Fun Run was the perfect opportunity for some of them to get fit and healthy and follow in the footsteps of the half marathon runners.

From marshalling the fun run course to handing out water as well as providing medals, refreshments and goodie bags to more than 18,000 participants in the post race area, the keen volunteers were a huge help in order to assist and manage the crowds at the finish line.

 The volunteers who all signed up through the Sport Cardiff VSB website all really enjoyed the experience and stated that they would be willing to help out with future events. Without them providing their time, these initiatives would be much worse off, and Sport Cardiff would like to thank all people involved for their hard work and professionalism.

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A new Other opportunity has been added to Sport Cardiff VSB by Sport Cardiff – Events, starts 30 October 2012

Assisting Coaching & Workforce Development Officer

Placement offered by Sport Cardiff – Events

Contact – Gareth Power

Phone – 07976056155

Location – Heath Park

Postcode – CF144EP

Start Date – 30 October 2012

End Date – 23 May 2013

Minimum age – 16

Required Qualification – None

Duties – Other

A new Athletics opportunity has been added to Sport Cardiff VSB by Sport.Cardiff, starts 29 October 2012

An opportunity to volunteer with a grassroots club, introducing Athletics to children with a range of disabilities.

Placement offered by Sport.Cardiff

Contact – Dan Bufton

Phone – 07807300562

Location – NIAC, Cardiff Metropolitan University (UWIC)

Postcode – CF236XD

Start Date – 29 October 2012

End Date – 28 October 2013

Minimum age – 16

Required Qualification – None

Duties – Assisting

A new Multisports opportunity has been added to Sport Cardiff VSB by Sport.Cardiff, starts 03 November 2012

An opportunity to volunteer at a multisports club for children with disabilities. Sports include Cricket, Hockey, Football and Basketball as well as others.
This club runs on a fortnightly basis.

Placement offered by Sport.Cardiff

Contact – Dan Bufton

Phone – 07807300562

Location – Talybont Leisure Centre

Postcode – CF143UX

Start Date – 03 November 2012

End Date – 30 November 2013

Minimum age – 16

Required Qualification – None

Duties – Assisting

A new Netball opportunity has been added to Sport Cardiff VSB by Sport Cardiff (Lowri), starts 12 November 2012

Seeking an enthusiastic, reliable female to support the head coach at an after school club. Preferably a Welsh speaker, but not essential.

Placement offered by Sport Cardiff (Lowri)

Contact – Lowri Williams

Phone – 07792397491

Location – Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf

Postcode – CF142JL

Start Date – 12 November 2012

End Date – 08 April 2013

Minimum age – 16

Required Qualification – None

Duties – Assisting

A new Basketball opportunity has been added to Sport Cardiff VSB by Sport Cardiff – Disability Sport, starts 25 October 2012

Join an exciting opportunity with a developing Wheelchair basketball club. You’ll be working with adult and junior members at the club, assisting the coaches in delivering the weekly sessions.

Placement offered by Sport Cardiff – Disability Sport

Contact – Jo Coates-McGrath

Phone – 02920 873935

Type: Clubs

Location – Cardiff and Vale College – Towbridge

Postcode – CF31XZ

Start Date – 25 October 2012

End Date – 30 May 2013

Minimum age – 16

Required Qualification – None

Required Qualification Level –

Duties – Assisting

Cardiff’s Ambassadors get a deserved prize

On Monday 10 September a combination of Team GB and Paralympic GB participated in the Athletes Parade through the main streets in the UK’s capital in order to celebrate and share with all the citizens their achievements at the London 2012 Games in which they have completed their biggest medal haul for over 100 years.

A large number of people lined the route to honour the athletes who have been inspiring them during the whole summer. Called Our Greatest Team parade, the procession of athletes which consisted of up to 21 floats, arranged by sport, each carrying around 40 athletes, passed by some of the most iconic buildings in London such as Queen Victoria Street, St Paul’s Cathedral or Trafalgar square amongst others.

The event was followed by large crowds but among the multitudes were ten of the Cardiff Host Council Ambassadors. The volunteers made the early start and travelled to London for the spectacle for which they had a great view as they were given prime seats in front of Buckingham Palace to watch and enjoy the parade, celebrating and cheering the Olympic and Paralympic athletes who performed at the Games.

The Ambassadors who visited London were Abbi Voyce, Sarah Thorp, Patrick Ware, Sri Ponnuswamy, Gareth Reynolds, Romina Waller, Chris Morris, Rhys Clayton, Samar Wafa, and Thomas Bevan. These volunteers supported Cardiff’s involvement with the London 2012 Games in various ways, ranging from assisting spectators on Olympic football match days at the Millennium Stadium to supporting Olympic and Paralympic team’s pre-Games training camps in Cardiff.

All of them enjoyed this experience and really appreciated the opportunity that Sport Cardiff gave to them. LOCOG just provided ten positions for each Host Council so they were really lucky as the names of the Ambassadors were selected by draw. We are sure this was an occasion that will undoubtedly live long in their memory specially for Gareth Reynolds who was invited to attend at Number 10 in Downing Street for a tea reception with the Prime Minister, David Cameron.

“Of course, there are lots of people to thank: the athletes and the Paralympians who have delighted us and amazed us; the army and the police who’ve done a fantastic job with the security services in terms of keeping us safe; the volunteers, some of whom are standing behind me, who put this incredible smiling face on the Games and delighted the world; and of course all those who were responsible for delivering a safe, secure and, frankly, brilliant, best ever – in my view – Olympics and Paralympics” Prime Minister said.

This is the second time that Mr Cameron paid tribute to the volunteers who have been involved at the Olympic and Paralympic Games as on a visit to the Uniform Distribution and Accreditation Centre (UDAC) in London to mark the ‘one month to go’ milestone, the Prime Minister was grateful to the thousands of people playing a vital part towards the success of the Games.

None of the Cardiff Host Council Ambassadors signed up to volunteer with any thought of being given such amazing opportunities so it is nice to see them being valued in this way.

Recognition for Host Council Ambassadors

After a busy yet exciting summer that saw Cardiff involved in delivering the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, it was a fitting that as the “Biggest Show on Earth” moves on that those who contributed so valuably to making it happen were recognised. Cardiff Council organized an event to reward all the Ambassador volunteers who gave their time, effort, and above all their energy and enthusiasm during the Welsh Capital”s memorable involvement with the Games.

On Monday 24th September to recognise the contribution of the Cardiff Host Council Ambassadors a celebration event took place in the Assembly Room at City Hall where over 200 guests came along to the event and enjoyed catching up and sharing their personal experiences.

It is estimated that the amount of hours volunteered by the team of 300 volunteers was approx 6,000 hours which would amount to an in-kind contribution to the value of approx £60,000 to the council. A recent European report that was actually launched here in Cardiff in June 2012 cited the Cardiff Host Council Ambassador Programme as a best practice case study, and identified â?~Recognition” as one of the key factors in the effective management and retention of volunteers. Therefore, this event was very appropriate and also important in not only recognising what the volunteers have given to the city, but also in ensuring that volunteers feel valued and would be more likely to continue to volunteer into the future.

The Leader of Cardiff Council, Cllr. Heather Joyce and Cllr. Huw Thomas, Cabinet Member for Sport, Leisure, and Culture, were among the special guests attending the event, which also included a guest appearance from Sara Head, Paralympic table tennis bronze medallist from the Games. Whilst the event reflected on what had bee n achieved in delivering the Games, there was also opportunity to look ahead as up-and-coming young sports people were recognised by the council as recipients of the Sport Cardiff bursaries, providing them with much needed financial support to assist them in achieving their full potential as international performers.

During the event each ambassador received a certificate and a London 2012 Teamwork Baton supplied by LOCOG as a â?~thank you” for putting in such a huge amount of time and effort to support the Olympic football and pre-Games training camps taking place in the city.

Tributes have also come from Lord Coe who honoured to the role that volunteers played in â?~making” the Games at the Closing Ceremony and has since written to specifically thank Cardiff”s Ambassadors for the part they have played, so it is fitting that the council recognised and celebrated their contribution as well.

Prime Minister David Cameron also sent a letter to each Host Council Ambassador to express his gratitude for their commitment during the Games. The Prime Minister even received a representation of volunteers on 10th September before the GB team parade for a tea reception at number 10 – among this contingent was Gareth Reynolds, a Cardiff Host Council Ambassador who volunteered with the Australian Paralympic Team. Gareth was able to share his volunteer experiences at the event in City Hall and spoke on behalf of all the Ambassadors as he reflected on what had been once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of London 2012.

At Sport Cardiff we would simply like to add to the tributes already made and say a huge “Thank You” to all the volunteers that did such a great job. The city couldn”t have delivered as it did without you, and we hope that you will all be able to join us on our sporting journey as we look forward to being European Capital for Sport in 2014!

A new Football opportunity has been added to Sport Cardiff VSB by Sport Cardiff – Football, starts 06 October 2012

Girls only football sessions for Under 12’s (Years 3,4,5 and 6), playing the national 4v4 mini football structure.
Volunteers are required to assist existing coaches to provide a high quality football experience for the future stars of Welsh womens football.

Placement offered by Sport Cardiff – Football

Contact – Chris McDermott

Phone – 07580434534

Type: Events

Location – Leckwith Stadium

Postcode – CF118AZ

Start Date – 06 October 2012

End Date – 29 June 2013

Minimum age – 16

Required Qualification – None

Required Qualification Level –

Duties – Assisting