Last week, MonLife Sports Development Team hosted Primary school pupils from across Monmouthshire at their annual PlayMaker Conference.

The aim was to bring Monmouthshire’s young leaders together for training and to celebrate their leadership journeys. Around 750 children from 26 out of 30 Monmouthshire primary schools took part in a carousel of activities delivered by MonLife Services, Monlife Leadership Academy, and external partners, including Rogiet and Dixton Parkrun groups, Monmouthshire Community Hubs (and libraries), Bowls Wales and Newport County in the Community.

The events included developing play opportunities, promoting Active Travel, pupil voice, National Governing Body workshops, Team Building, Wellbeing awareness and many more.

The week-long programme of events received fantastic support from Caldicot, Chepstow and Monmouth Comprehensive Schools, who provided facilities for the events as well as Abergavenny Rugby Club and Abergavenny Bowls Club at Bailey Park. 

The MonLife Sports Development Team has been delivering the Sports Leaders PlayMaker award throughout this academic year, engaging with all 30 Monmouthshire primary schools. After the pupils have achieved the award, they assist with providing a positive impact on wellbeing within their schools. This is the first stage of Sport Development’s leadership pathway, before transitioning into the Year 6 Bronze Ambassador scheme and the Secondary School Leadership academies.

Across the week, 34 Leadership Academy volunteers supported the events, recording 156 hours between them. For more information about the PlayMaker programme, or wider Sport Development initiatives, please visit – www.monlife.co.uk/connect/sports-development or email sport@monmouthshire.gov.uk