Twelve young men and women arrived early on Monday morning ready to face the challenges that lay ahead.
“To be honest” said community manager Mike Sage, “when you get twelve young people together who have not been lucky in life or in getting work added with the fact they didn’t know each other, you do fear that there will be some that will drop out along the way.”
However, it soon became apparent that this was a special group who were determined to get as much out the week long course as they possibly could. Having had the first morning filling in the necessary paper work and then having educational officer Phil James speaking to them for over an hour, the team were ready for the afternoon challenge of developing team esteem through team bonding and team building activities.
This proved to be a huge success, barriers were broken down and friendships that would last long after the course was finished were struck up.
The next step was to interview Dragons star and top points scorer, Jason Tovey. The confidence they gained from the team building activities came to the fore as they asked questions with real poise. The session finished with autographs and a photo that soon took pride of place in their records of achievements that was developing at a rapid pace.
As the week progressed, the intensity of activities also increased and the youngsters achieved success in gaining the WRU Community Tag Leaders Award and an Emergency First Aid Certificate which allowed them to graduate from the programme with an impressive portfolio of their achievements.
Prince’s Trust Programme Executive Dave Burton, who also gave full support to the participants, was delighted with the week’s efforts, “These young men and women talk with their feet” he said, “and the fact that all 12 have shown full commitment is testament to professional standards that we have seen throughout this week.”
The final day saw the whole original group collect their awards from Dragons star Owen Evans and Jonathan Smith who was representing Neil Woodford who had sponsored the week’s activities along with similar courses throughout Wales in partnership with the Trust. Newly appointed Dragons Commercial Director, Peter Grzonka & Princes Trust Programme Executive, Dave also assisted with the presentation to acknowledge the young peoples achievements.
One of the highlights of the week was witnessing the young people speak about their week long experience with passion and pride with what they had achieved but with an appreciation of the all the effort that was made by everyone involved with the programme.
There were beaming faces abound as all those present witnessed a super afternoon in which sport, the Dragons, the Princes Trust and the participants can all be justly proud of.
