Sport

Sports clubs in Wales support NSPCC’s Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport Week

Published

1 year ago

October 8, 2024

AN NSPCC campaign to raise awareness of safeguarding in sports is being supported by clubs, organisations and politicians in Wales, including the Football Association of Wales, Dragons RFC and Welsh Athletics.

Sports clubs, teams, parents and carers across the UK are being encouraged to take part in Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport Week, which is led by the NSPCC’s Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU) and takes place between October 7 and 11.

Part of a year-round safeguarding campaign, the week is designed to raise awareness of safeguarding in sports and activity clubs and create safer sporting environments for children across the UK. It was launched with a star-studded event held in Manchester.

Celebrities and clubs backing this year’s campaign include Alan Shearer, Olympic basketballer and star of BBC’s The Traitors Fay Greaves and Olympic weightlifter Chloe Whylie.

In Wales, it is being supported by the players and staff from Dragons RFC, Welsh Athletics, Football Association of Wales, Welsh Rugby Union, Weightlifting Wales, Deputy Senedd Leader of Plaid Cymru, Delyth Jewell MS and Newport East MS John Griffiths.

Ben Carter, Captain at Dragons RFC, said: “We are proud to show our support for Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport week and are calling on clubs across Gwent to get behind this important campaign.

“Raising awareness of safeguarding in sports and clubs is vital as we strive to create the safest environments for children across Gwent to enjoy sport.

“The “Team Huddle” idea is also an easy and great way for clubs to bring everyone together to raise awareness and create meaningful discussions around safeguarding.”

Rhian Wilkinson, Senior Cymru WNT Manager, said: “Football has given me so much, and my childhood club and my first experience there, is where it all begun.

“As such, I’m proud to support the NSPCC’s Keeping your Child Safe in Sport campaign. Every child deserves a fun, and positive experience in sport and together, we can create an environment where everyone feels safe, empowered, and supported.”

The aim of this year’s campaign is to focus on the importance of building stronger, more inclusive communities around sporting and activity clubs, encouraging parents and carers to look out for not just the young people taking part, but their families too, helping anyone who needs support to get it sooner.

The top concerns reported to the NSPCC’s Helpline in 2023/24 by adults relating to a sports setting were sexual abuse and exploitation and emotional abuse.

Delyth Jewell MS, Deputy Senedd Leader of Plaid Cymru, said: “I am pleased to back the work of NSPCC Cymru’s Child Protection in Sport Units.

“I have tabled a statement of opinion in the Senedd in support of their work that recognises the importance of keeping children safe and building safe communities for children within sports clubs.

“I hope as many people as possible across Wales will engage with Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport Week. Culture and sport are all vital expressions of our history and social traditions, as well as of our future aspirations so our children and young people must feel safe when taking part in these activities.”

Newport East Senedd Member John Griffiths said: “Ensuring that children are safe from abuse and harm in all settings which they encounter is a huge priority, and it is pleasing to see clubs in Newport are committed to creating a safe and welcoming environment for children to participate in sport.

“By participating in the Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport campaign, sports clubs everywhere can help foster an atmosphere which is open to discussion about how children can be kept safe in sport, and how everyone can work together as a team to keep every child safe.

“I know several people raised the issue of how best to keep children safe in sport at my recent Active Newport Conference, so I am pleased there are organisations such as the NSPCC who are working so hard to raise the profile and increase understanding of how we can tackle this vital issue.”

Simon Roach, Safeguarding Lead at Weightlifting Wales, said: “Weightlifting Wales is delighted to be once again fully participating in the NSPCC’s Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport campaign.

“The national governing body promotes and wholly supports licensed clubs in creating safe, inclusive and enjoyable sporting environments for young people. This shared campaign provides a fantastic opportunity to continue working closely with our clubs, working together as a strength community and ensuring that the safety and wellbeing of young people are at the heart of everything we do.”

The NSPCC’s CEO, Sir Peter Wanless, said: “By participating in this year’s campaign, clubs are showing that they are serious about creating a safe, inclusive, and enjoyable sporting environment for young people.

“Each year, Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport Week gets stronger, and it provides an opportunity to reflect on how we can all work together to ensure that every child can participate in sport free from harm.”

Through the Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport campaign, the CPSU aims to empower parents and carers to feel confident in their role in keeping children safe while helping clubs and teams understand how they can foster a protective and inclusive environment.

As part of this initiative, clubs, coaches, and parents are being urged to host a “Team Huddle” event — a fun and informal gathering that brings together everyone involved in the sporting community to raise awareness and create meaningful discussions around safeguarding.

A Team Huddle can be part of an existing event, such as a club meeting, or it can be its own standalone event designed to bring everyone together. Free Team Huddle Event Packs are available from the CPSU website which include a variety of resources to help spark conversations about safeguarding.

The pack features a fun quiz and other activities, but clubs are encouraged to get creative and whether the huddle invites parents to participate in a quiz, a sports day, a scavenger hunt or even a barbecue, the focus is on connection, conversation, and community.

Michelle North, Head of the CPSU, added: “Team Huddles are a brilliant way to bring people together, providing an opportunity for parents, coaches, and club leaders to connect in a relaxed environment.

“But they also serve an important purpose. These events open the door to vital conversations about safeguarding, giving everyone involved a chance to reflect on their role in keeping children safe in sport.”

Any clubs taking part in Team Huddles can share their experiences on social media using the hashtag #SafeinSport and help spread the word about the importance of safeguarding practices and celebrate the efforts being made at the grassroots level to protect young athletes.

Sport

Bluebirds’ European Journey Continues in Season Four of You Can Have It All

Published

16 hours ago

December 13, 2025

Herald Sport

Club documentary series returns to document Haverfordwest County’s historic UEFA Conference League campaign

HAVERFORDWEST COUNTY has confirmed the return of their club documentary series, You Can Have It All (YCHIA), later this month, showcasing the thrilling journey of last summer’s European adventure.

YCHIA first began filming in 2021, with Season One covering a rollercoaster 2021-22 campaign for the Bluebirds. The season ended with a dramatic top-flight survival, following a challenging period. Season Two shifted focus to the 2022-23 season, which saw the club qualify for Europe for the first time since 2004. The Bluebirds’ stunning play-off victory, which included back-to-back penalty shoot-out wins against Cardiff Met and Newtown, marked manager Tony Pennock’s first season in charge as a major success.

The excitement intensified as the series continued to cover their historic European campaign, which began with a trip to North Macedonia to face KF Shkëndija. Returning to Cardiff City Stadium for the second leg, the Bluebirds made club history by winning their first-ever European tie on penalties. The drama then took them to the Faroe Islands to face B36 Tórshavn, where they were controversially edged out by a single goal in the return leg.

Now, with further continental success under their belts, YCHIA returns for its fourth season, documenting last summer’s European adventure. This season follows Haverfordwest County’s journey through the qualifying rounds of the newly rebranded UEFA Conference League (UECL).

Providing exclusive behind-the-scenes access, the series tracks the Bluebirds’ travels to Malta for the first leg of their UECL first qualifying round tie against Floriana, and the return leg at Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli a week later. The season also covers the build-up to the competition, including a visit to Geneva for the UEFA draw and a match against reigning Northern Ireland champions Linfield at Windsor Park, the national stadium.

Season Four will be released in three episodes on December 18, December 23, and January 2. You can watch You Can Have It All on Haverfordwest County’s YouTube channel by following this link. The club will also share highlights and snippets of the documentary across their social media platforms, so be sure to follow them on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter)!

News

Pembroke Dock coach helped steer Lando Norris to F1 world title

Published

3 days ago

December 11, 2025

Seren Baker

Local mentor recalls seven-year-old Norris as “one to watch from day one”

A FORMER Pembroke Dock man has been revealed as one of the earliest influences behind newly-crowned Formula 1 World Champion Lando Norris – adding an unexpected Pembrokeshire chapter to one of the biggest sporting stories of the year.

Robert Dodds, who grew up in Pembroke Dock before later moving to Poole, was Norris’s first coach at BKC Racing. He began mentoring the future McLaren star when he was just seven years old, helping shape the early foundations of a career that reached its peak on Sunday (Dec 7) when Norris secured the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship in Abu Dhabi.

Speaking to The Herald, Mr Dodds said Norris’s talent was obvious from the very first outing.

“There was something special about him from day one,” he said. “By the time he was eight, he was already as quick as the 10–12-year-olds. He just had this will about him – he wanted it.”

Pembrokeshire link to a global success story

Dodds coached Norris for four years, guiding him through kart setup, technique, and competitive racecraft. He says he remains “immensely proud” that his own Pembrokeshire roots now form a small part of the world champion’s rise.

“Ten or fifteen years ago he was sat in the front of my van as we drove to tracks,” he said. “Now he’s flying around the world racing in Monaco. It’s incredible how far he’s come.”

That early development included a fierce sibling rivalry with Norris’s older brother, Oliver – something Dodds believes accelerated his progress.

“Because of that rivalry, his pace shot up. He wanted to beat his brother – and then he wanted to beat everyone.”

BKC Racing has produced other top talents too, including 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours winner Phil Hanson, further underlining the pedigree of the team that helped launch Norris’s career.

The moment a champion first stood out

Dodds still recalls an early test at Clay Pigeon Raceway, where a seven-year-old Norris completed a lap in 39 seconds – a benchmark usually achieved only by much older cadet racers.

“He came past me with his thumb up – this tiny kid doing senior cadet times. That was the moment we knew.”

Norris seals his first world title

Norris made his Formula 1 debut in 2019, claimed his first podium in 2020, took pole position in 2021 and secured his first Grand Prix win in Miami in 2024. His 2025 campaign saw him take multiple victories before clinching the world championship in Abu Dhabi, becoming the first British driver since Lewis Hamilton to lift the title.

Pride back home in Pembrokeshire

Motorsport fans across the county followed Sunday’s title decider closely, with many celebrating the unexpected local connection.

A local F1 fan who watched the race in a Haverfordwest pub told The Herald:
“Everyone here was proud of Lando – and hearing that one of his early coaches came from Pembroke Dock makes it feel like Pembrokeshire had a tiny part in his journey.”

Dodds, who continues to mentor young racers today, says Norris’s success is already inspiring the next generation.

“It’s like something out of a film. I’m proud of what he’s achieved – and proud to have been part of the journey.”

For Pembrokeshire, the story adds a local footnote to a global sporting triumph – and a reminder that world champions sometimes start out much closer to home than anyone realises.

Cover image:

Proud mentor: Pembroke Dock’s Robert Dodds helped shape Norris’s early racing career (Pic: Robert Dodds)

Sport

South Pembs Short Mat Bowls: East Williamston strengthen lead after Week 11

Published

5 days ago

December 9, 2025

Herald Sport

EAST Williamston tightened their grip at the top of the South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls Association’s Friendly League table following another strong set of results in Week 11.

The week’s fixtures saw Lamphey beat Hundleton 8–2, St Johns defeat Badgers 8–2, Carew overcome Reynalton 7–3, and East Williamston record an impressive 8–2 win over Kilgetty.

The match between Llanteg and Cosheston was postponed, while St Twynnells had the bye. A catch-up fixture was also completed, ending St Twynnells 5–5 Cosheston.

Updated league table – Week 11

(Played – Won – Drawn – Lost – Shot Difference – Points)

East Williamston: 9–8–1–0 | +136 | 70 points
Reynalton: 9–5–1–3 | +54 | 53 points
St Johns: 9–4–1–4 | +14 | 46 points
Lamphey: 10–5–0–5 | +5 | 44 points
Hundleton: 9–4–1–4 | –17 | 44 points
St Twynnells: 9–4–1–4 | –34 | 43 points
Badgers: 10–3–1–6 | –41 | 43 points
Llanteg: 8–4–0–4 | –5 | 41 points
Cosheston: 9–3–1–5 | –13 | 40 points
Carew: 8–4–0–4 | –44 | 39 points
Kilgetty: 10–4–0–6 | –55 | 38 points

East Williamston remain clear leaders with a substantial shot-difference advantage, while the battle for the mid-table positions continues to tighten as the season progresses.

The South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls Association thanked teams for their cooperation with rearranged fixtures as the league moves toward the final stages.

Report courtesy of League Fixtures Secretary Steve Cox.