Welsh-medium Sports Club project in Carmarthen a great success

Between September and March, the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s Wales Academy for Health and Physical Literacy in partnership with Menter Iaith Sir Gâr and Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol established two new sports clubs in Carmarthen to promote the use of the Welsh language by encouraging children to engage in physical activity.

Children enjoying the Climbing and Adventure club at UWTSD's Carmarthen campus.

A mountain biking club was set up along with a climbing and adventure club for 10-18 year olds enabling the children to use UWTSD's Adventure and Outdoor facilities in Carmarthen. They had the opportunity to learn new skills in a fun and relaxed environment whilst socialising through the medium of Welsh.

The clubs were also a great opportunity for the University's Welsh medium students – all of whom are Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol students studying at UWTSD - to train the young people whilst also developing their own leadership skills.

The mountain biking course was held at the University's ‘Cynefin’ site in Johnstown, Carmarthen in the autumn term of 2019. Cynefin is a dedicated Outdoor Education centre designed especially for those learning about or teaching Outdoor Education. It’s home to a challenging mountain biking skills track as well as a dedicated bike workshop allowing students to improve their bike maintenance and repair skills.

Over a six week period a group of young people from across Carmarthenshire came together to learn about bike care and repair, and to develop core mountain biking skills on the dedicated track.

Cynefin - UWTSD's dedicated Outdoor Adventure centre in Carmarthen.

Then, between January and March this year, a Climbing and Adventure Club was set up, again with the aim of encouraging children and young people to learn new skills whilst also socialising and conversing through the medium of Welsh. These sessions were held at the Sports Centre at UWTSD’s Carmarthen campus.

Over the course of eight weeks, around fifteen young aged 10 – 15 from across Carmarthenshire learnt how to climb using specialist equipment. They also took part in problem solving activities - individually, in pairs and as members of groups.

Welsh-medium students studying a range of degrees at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, with the support of University staff and Menter Iaith Gorllewin Sir Gâr, led the courses.

"These clubs provided a perfect environment for our students to practice many practical skills relevant to their degrees, such as the BA Physical Education and the BA Outdoor Education," said Heddwen Davies, Lecturer in Health, Sport and Physical Education at UWTSD. “The clubs offered an ideal platform to enable students to gain practical experience through the medium of Welsh and as a result, their confidence grew significantly, for example when discussing technical equipment and the correct procedures and terminology.  I would like to thank Menter Iaith Gorllewin Sir Gâr for being such supportive partners in this joint project alongside the University’s Wales Academy for Health and Physical Literacy and Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol,” she adds.

The local Welsh language initiative was also pleased to collaborate with the University on this type of activity.

Nia ap Tegwyn of Menter Iaith Gorllewin Sir Gâr said: "It was great to work with the University and to offer something different to the young people of the area.  We look forward to further opportunities to work together in the future."

For further information about the clubs, please contact Heddwen Davies 

Find out more about the Sport and Health related degrees offered by UWTSD here.

Further Information

For further information, please contact Sian-Elin Davies, Principal Communications and PR Officer on 01267 676908 / 07449 998476 sian-elin.davies@uwtsd.ac.uk