We uses case studies in our development and publicity work, to communicate and celebrate successful projects and developments in sport.

To support this, we produce a series of good practice case studies across a range of topics. Projects are recommended by our staff and are then evaluated by the Research department.

Where good practice is identified, projects are then written up as good practice case studies.

On this page, we present a selection of the case studies that have been produced so far.

Over time, this section of the website will grow to incorporate a wide range of case studies, demonstrating good practice across all aspects of Welsh sport.

For further information about good practice, please contact research@sportwales.org.uk

Adults and young people from Blaenau Gwent and beyond can now use athletics facilities at a local school, thanks to the creation of a new community club.

Background

Brynmawr Comprehensive School's floodlit synthetic running track and pavilion has been used by the school since its completion in 2006.

Despite some demand from local people, there was no structure, coaching or supervision to support community use of the facility.

Actions

Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council's (BGCBC) Active Communities team established the 'BG Athletics Club' to maximise the facility's use and create new athletics opportunities.

Funding and support from Welsh Athletics, the local authority, the Sports Council for Wales, and the University of Wales, Newport was combined to buy additional facilities and equipment.

12 athletic volunteers were sourced to help establish the club. Coach education was provided to train the volunteers to achieve Welsh Athletics Level Two qualifications.

Challenges and solutions

The Level Two coaches needed to run an athletics club were not available at the start of the project.

Welsh Athletics were able to fast track the 12 coaches through private coach education courses.

Achievements

BG Athletics now offer a track and field session each Thursday, catering for all ages and abilities.

The club has 62 members, who pay a small fee to attend each session.

The club is affiliated to Welsh Athletics and now enters athletes into competitions. 15 athletes of all ages have competed at District events.

12 volunteers and coaches have been engaged through the Council's existing networks, including its Volunteer Programme, Communities First, 5x60 and the University of Wales, Newport.

The club is now constituted, with a committee made up of the club's coaches.

Why has the project worked?

Voluntary commitment by the 12 athletics coaches and a proactive approach from the governing body, the local authority and the local university has made the club sustainable:

"BG Athletics is a great example of what can be achieved with close partnership working ... The progress that has been made is a testament to the dedication and hard work of an essential volunteer base" - Chris Moss, Welsh Athletics

What next?

The club is looking for more coach education modules, so that coaches can coach more than one discipline. This will enable a wider number of activities to be offered by the club.

This includes discus and hammer, as a new cage has been funded by BGCBC.

The club is looking to encourage participants into cross-country events in winter.

For further information about this project, please contact the Sports Council for Wales' South East regional team:

Tel: 0845 045 0904 / Fax: 0845 846 0014

October 2009

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Background

From a number of information sources such as club audits undertaken by the governing body, Dragon Sport management information and discussions with partners, it was identified that there were relatively low numbers of girls playing cricket in South Wales.

There were no cricket clubs running girls-only teams at age group level (under 11, 13, 14 or 15) and a limited amount of mixed ability training was being offered for girls aged between six and 17.

When mixed club sections were set up, there was a regular loss of girls from the club once the boys became stronger and faster - making competitive opportunities impractical.

Actions

In order to address this drop out, the National Governing Body and the club's Community Development Officer aimed to recruit enough girls to form four new girls' sections that would be placed in four clubs in South Wales.

A girls' Kwik cricket festival was set up in the summer to attract new participants, and the governing body's 'Chance to Shine' programme went into local schools. This recruitment process led to the development of four separate squads.

These squads formed an 'academy' which attended an open coaching programme. The programme consisted of eight winter sessions and 12 summer sessions and the academy was based at a club with indoor facilities

The squads played matches at regular intervals. The coaches involved in the project had the opportunity to progress with coaching qualifications, including possible funding for further levels of English Cricket Board coaching awards

Challenges and solutions

Clubs were regularly losing girls from their mixed club sections once the boys became stronger and faster.

This was overcome by developing several girls' sides simultaneously, each placed in a separate club, rather than individual clubs attempting to develop girls' sections or mixed sections only to have them weaken once the opportunities were reduced for the girls to compete and develop.

It was also a challenge to get parents involved - initially by asking them to bring their children to the clubs and then encouraging some parents to take an active role as a leader or a coach.

Achievements

The result was an increased number of girls playing cricket in the local authorities of Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.

Following the Kwik cricket festival and the school programme, 80 girls became involved in the academy, divided into four separate squads of 20.

Each squad had a lead coach and an assistant coach (young leaders or parents).

A structured professional set-up for girls was developed for the Under 11 age group level. There was an increased level of interest in cricket throughout the schools.

The project was able to provide four clubs with 'ready-made' girls' sections set up for competitions, giving them the opportunity to develop their cricket skills further.

More coaching opportunities were provided at schools, clubs, and at a regional level.

What made the project a success?

The project was professionally run with an emphasis on fun and development to engage with all the girls.

The 'academy' at the indoor school effectively served as a bridge between the school and the club allowing the girls to become comfortable with playing cricket outside their school environment.

Links with clubs were made to cater for all girls that were interested in taking part, and links to county sessions and beyond were there for those with talent, with a good development structure in place. The idea was that all girls who were involved in the scheme had the opportunity to be involved and compete at the appropriate level.

The success of the programme has meant that a girls' academy is now being set up in Blaenau Gwent, organised through the governing body's regional development officer.

What would we do differently?

The use of the word 'academy' could have been seen by some of the girls as elitist and might be discouraging. However, among primary school children this did not seem to occur.

Future projects might consider recruiting female coaches to the project.

October 2009

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Young people in Powys are now accessing high-quality gymnastics activities, with new clubs and coaches being developed across the county.

Background

Although gymnastics sessions were being delivered in six local authority-run sports and leisure centres in Powys, there was only one club in the area - Maldwyn Dragons in Montgomeryshire - and only one Level 3 coach.

Welsh Gymnastics and Powys County Council Sports staff therefore identified the need to improve and expand provision.

Actions

Powys County Council was awarded a Development Grant worth £5,157 by Sport Wales to develop a number of standalone clubs affiliated to Welsh Gymnastics.

An increase in the number and level of coaches was also planned as part of this development.

Challenges and solutions

The new standalone clubs, and in particular their coaches, have needed support as they develop.

The coaches now come together each week for mentoring sessions with the area's first Level 3 coach, allowing them to develop and refresh their skills, and to share issues and solutions.

Achievements

Five new clubs have been set up across Powys, and are now affiliated to Welsh Gymnastics.

Participant numbers have increased from 284 to over 400, with 22 sessions running each week.

Two more Level 3 coaches have been trained, ensuring that current development can be sustained. More Level 1 and 2 coaches have also been trained.

Why has the project worked?

Partnership working between Powys County Council, Sport Wales and Welsh Gymnastics has ensured that the various aspects of the project's development have progressed as planned.

What next?

A Level 0 coaching course will be introduced in Powys, to develop new coaches.

Knighton/Presteigne and Ystradgynlais have been identified as other areas with the potential to host clubs.

The project partners also hope to develop a new centre in Newtown where better gymnasts can come for advanced training.

For further information about this project, please contact Sport Wales' South East Wales regional team:

Tel: 0845 045 0904

January 2010

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A Community Champion based in Amlwch has engaged a community in sport.

Background

The Amlwch Port ward on the Isle of Anglesey was listed in the 2000 Wales Index of Multiple Deprivation as one of the 100 most deprived ward areas in Wales. The local authority wanted to increase the number of local adults taking part in sport.

Actions

A local man, John Pritchard, was identified by the local authority as having the potential to initiate sporting opportunities in the area.

The Isle of Anglesey County Council were awarded grant funding to support payment of John as a 'Community Champion', working part-time in the Amlwch area to:

• build capacity for activity within their locality, utilising local indoor and outdoor spaces and training local people to deliver;
• establish new opportunities to participate in physical activity, taking account of the identified barriers to participation found in those communities;
• deliver activities requested by local people.

Achievements

Over the two years of the project so far, the Champion has created an array of new indoor and outdoor activities for adults and families in the Amlwch area.

Activities include: football, keep fit, kayaking, walking, and an indoor multi-sports session.

225 participants have been engaged across the various activities so far.

Particularly successful has been weekly rounders sessions based at the local school, which grew from eight participants to up to 50 by the end of the first summer by word of mouth.

Volunteers have also been engaged to ensure that activities can become sustainable within the community - to date 20 people have been engaged as volunteers and/or taken leaders training.

Why has the project worked?

Making participants feel valued is central to John's ethos:

"I think there's always skills in every person, there's that ability. It just takes longer in some people ... and a bit more encouragement ... [telling them] look you've done well there."

John Pritchard, Amlwch Community Champion

Local knowledge and sensitivity to barriers to participation and local demand has been vital.

The Champion is well-known and respected throughout the town, through extensive contact with people through his previous job running a local shop, and community activities.

Previous experience of working in sport as a volunteer as a part-time sports development officer has also given the Champion the necessary development experience.

For further information about this project, please contact Sport Wales' North Wales regional team:

Tel: 0845 045 0908

September 2009

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A young at heart group of over 50s in Ammanford are continuing to put their best foot forward on land and in the pool, thanks to a project set up three years ago with funding from the Free Swimming Initiative Improvement Fund.

Background

Carmarthenshire County Council's Leisure Department wanted to increase usage of marked walks and take-up in the Free Swimming scheme.

Actions

A Walk and Swim group was created at Ammanford Leisure Centre. The once a week session sees the group going for a two to three mile walk around Ammanford before enjoying an hour's swim.

The Walk and Swim session at Ammanford Leisure Centre qualified for a £10,000 investment from the 2006-2007 Improvement Fund.

The group and the marked walks are promoted at the centre, and the pool is available to the group free of charge.

To aid the social aspect of the group, tea and coffee were offered at the end of each activity.

Achievements

Between 15 and 20 people regularly turn up for the sessions.

The group takes responsibility for planning the walks and the use they make of their time in the pool. This, together with free access to the pool, has made the session sustainable.

Why has the project worked?

There is a strong social element to the group, who all meet for a coffee afterwards. Olwen Davies, 66, from Tycroes, is a regular of the group:

I wasn't able to swim before joining Walk and Swim but thanks to these free sessions and lots of support and encouragement, I now can and this has boosted my confidence. The health, social and wellbeing benefits offered by the sessions keep me coming back week after week."

The sessions offer a supportive environment for learning new skills, so that participation continues.

The group have taken ownership of the session, and can adapt the sessions to suit them, both as a group and as individuals.

For further information about this project, please contact Sport Wales' South West Wales regional team:

Tel: 0845 045 0906

December 2009

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Over 150 people from across Cardiff now take part, and the programme has also created jobs for 5 local women.

Background

After a popular ten-week programme of Bollywood dance classes in Cardiff, a lack of trained instructors meant that the classes could no longer be run regularly, despite high demand.

Actions

The Council trained volunteers as instructors, and then employed them to deliver in leisure centres across the city.

Trainees were recruited from existing networks and community centres around Cardiff.

Training included a standard dance leaders' course as well as a Bollywood course.

Challenges and solutions

Several volunteers dropped out of the training course. Those who did finish the course had a low level of experience and knowledge. Cardiff Council's volunteer support programme has helped to retain and develop the instructors.

Achievements

Four trained instructors are now paid to deliver Bollywood dance classes in Cardiff. Another instructor leads classes across South Wales.

In two leisure centres, participants pay a small attendance fee to cover instructor costs. Classes are also run in three community centres. Bollywood dance classes have also been run in local secondary schools through Sport Wales' 5x60 scheme.

The classes have attracted over 150 women of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. Around half of the people who take part regularly are of Asian or British Asian origin, while others are from a range of other communities.

Cardiff Council's Active Communities officer Rajma Begum believes that the project has already exceeded expectations:

"This project has been a great accomplishment and is aimed at everyone in the community, not just those from BME backgrounds. The huge interest from different ethnicities also shows the extraordinary success of the scheme so far".

Why has the project worked?

Cardiff Council are committed to increasing participation and leadership among Cardiff's ethnic minority communities, and seek to understand their target audience.

Testing the activity for ten weeks identified issues to be addressed before classes could be developed.

For further information about this project, please contact Sport Wales' South East Wales regional team:

Tel: 0845 045 0904

July 2009

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Hundreds of young people in Torfaen now have the opportunity to play badminton in and outside school, thanks to a partnership between Sport Wales, the Welsh Badminton Union, schools and 5x60 officers.

Background

Although 5x60 audits showed that badminton was in high demand in Torfaen - 36% of pupils audited in Abersychan Comprehensive School wanted to play badminton - pupils were being turned away from school sessions, due to a lack of capacity.

Actions

16 pupils from Abersychan Comprehensive School completed a level 0 badminton leaders' course, and have been assisting the 5x60 Officer and PE staff to deliver badminton sessions.

Additional badminton coaches were interviewed and employed.

New equipment has been purchased to help and sustain the school sessions.

A Welsh Badminton Union development officer was appointed to work in the Gwent area to support the development of exit routes for the interest developed via 5x60.

Achievements

In the 2008/9 Autumn and Spring terms:

• a total of 116 sessions of badmintons were run at two comprehensive schools;
• 261 pupils took part in the sessions, of whom 122 pupils took part regularly (five times or more).
• 14 pupils are now participating in local coaching sessions held at local leisure facilities.

The county badminton coach has stated that his badminton squad "has swollen from 14 members to 27" as a direct result of the 5x60 badminton programme within the local authority.

A local authority-wide badminton inter-school competition has also been established, involving all seven secondary schools in the area.

62 pupils from school Years 10 and 11 participated. Welsh badminton coaches attended, to signpost pupils to local clubs.

Why has the project worked?

Using qualified pupils to help delivery sessions created additional capacity to meet demand.

The use of taster sessions within curriculum time showed pupils what was available in terms of participation and qualifications. This had a major positive impact on badminton participation.

Effective partnership working with 5x60 officers, their line manager, Sports Council for Wales staff and PE staff within schools working together towards an agreed goal. Continuing discussions throughout the project enabled any issues to be resolved quickly.

For further information about this project, please contact the Sport Wales' South East Wales regional team:

Tel: 0845 045 0904

September 2009

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Background

In 2007, a 5x60 consultation with pupils showed that trampolining was the sport with the highest demand in all four secondary schools in Merthyr Tydfil. However, a lack of suitable equipment and a lack of clubs in the area meant that 5x60 officers, the local authority sports development team and the governing body had to work closely together to develop a solution to meet local needs.

Actions

As there were no clubs in the area, the 5x60 officer invited a coach from a trampolining club in neighbouring authority to come and run a taster session at the one school that had equipment. However, the coach found that the trampoline was unsuitable for a large group.

To overcome this, the Head of Trampolining at UWIC was contacted and two trips were organised for pupils to come to a taster session with high quality equipment and a high standard of coaching. A capacity of 40 pupils attended each session.

The interest this generated effectively became a problem, as there were no exit routes for pupils to continue taking part locally.

With the introduction of Local Authority Partnership Agreements (LAPAs), a partnership and funding opportunity arose to address demand and establish a new club.

The first task was to work with Welsh Gymnastics to identify a suitably qualified coach willing to act as a head coach for a club. A keen individual stepped forward, and Welsh Gymnastics assisted in identifying a pathway to allow her to gain a Level 2 award and set up new sessions. Five supporting individuals who would complete courses to allow them to assist with the club were also found.

Finally, equipment was sourced, and sessions were organised at Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Centre.

Achievements

A head coach was identified who achieved her Level 2 award.

Five individuals qualified as Level 0 assistants.

Two of these have now become Level 1 assistant coaches. Another Level 1 coach from a nearby club assists.

Six sessions take place every weekend for ages 8-16 and since January 2010, 84 pupils have registered.

Two sessions were recently added for children aged 6-7 (18 children are currently registered) and two weekly sessions are planned for adults.

Why did the project work?

The initial consultation process identified a demand throughout the local authority. With 5x60 officers, the Sports Development team, the Governing Body and the Leisure Centre all working together, sustainable opportunities to participate could be developed.

What next?

A further two sessions for advanced members will be added. Further consultation with primary school pupils shows continued interest in trampolining, suggesting a continued stream of participants will attend the club. The aim within the next six months is for the club to become fully affiliated.

May 2010

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