Dragon Sport fired up with 15 more recruits (From Penarth Times)

Dragon Sport fired up with 15 more recruits

FIFTEEN MORE Vale of Glamorgan teachers have qualified as organisers for a special scheme aimed at developing junior sport across the area.

Dragon Sport is a partnership between the Vale Council and the Sports Council for Wales who are investing £5m in developing the scheme over a three-year period.

The Dragon Sport course for organisers and helpers ensures individuals have a sound basic knowledge of good coaching practices as well as familiarity in delivering generic sports skills by using specially designed cards, and organiser Rachel McGuinness said: "The aim is to encourage teachers, parents and students to realise they have valuable skills to offer young children who want to be involved with sport, not just as coaches but as administrators, transport assistants or even kit washers. Basically they are an extra pair of hands."

The scheme is now operating in 17 Vale primary schools - Albert, St Joseph's RC, Ysgol Gymraeg Pen-y- Garth, Fairfield and Victoria (Penarth); Gladstone, Jenner Park, Palmerston, Barry Island and High Street (Barry); Wick and Marcross Church in Wales; Gwenfo Church in Wales; Llandough, Murch and St Andrew's Church in Wales (Dinas Powys), Pendoylan Church in Wales and Y Bont Faen (Cowbridge) - which all have new after school sports clubs.

Four organisations - Barry and Vale Harriers, Barry Netball Club, Barry Vixens Hockey Club and Barry Athletic Tennis Club - have joined the scheme and work closely with Dragon Sport schools to encourage juniors of all abilities to have fun by taking part in sport.

The Vale's leisure spokesman, Cllr Mike Harvey, said: "I'm very pleased that Dragon Sport is making such an impact in the Vale and so many more children are getting the opportunity to take part in a non-threatening, fun, sporting environment."

Anyone interested in becoming involved in Dragon Sport can contact Rachel McGuinness on 01446 704681.