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Our Youth Development Programme

We started this programme this year with the aim of providing local children with the opportunity to try the games of bowls,as well as and to provide a sporting opportunity on the bowling green. It proved quite successful with a regular core attendance of about 10 young people, who seem to enjoy themselves as they kept coming back!

How it started

Although the club has a healthy membership it was felt that we needed to introduce more people to the game to ensure its continuance in the community. It was also felt that as a club we should attempt to put something back into the local community and the idea of putting in place a Youth Development programme was born. We found the WBA already had experience of this and we were soon receiving invaluable help from Paul Morgan, WBA Regional Co-ordinator. Paul helped us secure a grant for the project from the The Sports Council for Wales Community Chest Fund. This substantial grant enabled us to buy 12 sets of small bowls suitable for use by younger children. We also needed approved coaches before we could start the programme. Four club members Laurie Brown, Carl Coombes, Mike Corcoran and myself, Gerald Cobley, successfully completed the Welsh Bowls Coaching Associations official coaching course under the tutorage of Advanced Coach Mike Hughes.

The Programme

Following discussions with Mr Samuels, Headmaster of Cwm Ifor Primary School, it was agreed that we would provide Year 6 children with a one hour coaching session on a weekly basis over a six week period. The programme was completed successfully with the loss of only one session due to rain. Overall most of the youngsters seemed to enjoy the experience and a number, girls included, showed considerable talent on the green. In fact some very competitive bowling took place over the last few sessions, as we engaged in round robin team competitions. We were rather surprised and somewhat pleased when the children presented us coaches with a thank you card (shown below) they had all made and signed containing expressions of their thanks.


We also started a weekly one hour Tuesday evening session for any local youngsters who wanted to attend. This proved very successful from the start with some 14 youngsters attending on the third week. A regular attendance of 10 - 12 enthusiastic youngsters resulted in a Sunday afternoon session being introduced. Initially they practice using a target mat and when considered proficient enough they progress to game play on a standard rink. It is amazing the ability that is shown and we have some very promising individuals turning up regularly for these sessions. These young bowlers have now decided to call themselves as 'The Merlins'.

Our thanks

We have had a lot of help and support for this programme both from the bowling fraternity and the local community and we feel it only right that they should receive due credit. So our thanks go to the following:-
Paul Morgan - Welsh Bowls Federation, South Glamorgan Community Hub Officer for guiding us in the setup of the programme.
Mike Hughes - Welsh Bowls Coaching Association Advanced Coach for turning us into coaches and helping out on some of our sessions
The Sports Council for Wales Community Chest Fund for awarding us the grant that helped purchase the necessary equipment.
Caerphilly County Borough Council for allowing the youngsters free use of the green.
Mr Samuels, Headmaster of Cwm Ifor Primary School for agreeing to his pupils participation.
The Formanta Convenience Stores, Penyrheol for providing soft drinks on a Tuesday evening.
Local newsagents 'Penyrheol News' for providing biscuits.
The coaches and other club members who have contributed their time and effort. Particular thanks to Laurie Brown for organising the school sessions and Carl Coombes who organised and lead in the Tuesday and Sunday sessions.
Finally to the youngsters themselves who have thrown themselves into the project, without them it would have failed.

Long may it continue!