Disability Sports News - with PembrokeshireSport.co.uk

PHOTOS: Victoria Jones (above) with the presentation party that includes former top football manager Laurie McMenemy.
Victoria Jones (below right) proudly displays her latest award. 

Victoria picks up deserved top award

Victoria Jones’ contribution to disability gymnastics was further recognised last week when she was the proud recipient of the ‘Newcomer Volunteer’ award at the Special Olympics GB annual ‘Volunteer of the Year’ Awards, held in London.
Special Olympics GB is the country’s largest provider of sports training and competition for children and adults with learning disabilities. The volunteer-driven charity relies on the good-will and passionate commitment of its 2800 volunteers to help transform the lives of its 8000 athletes through sport – and Victoria’s part in working with the Welsh Squad received due recognition in front of a huge crowd of participants, coaches, families and friends.

High praise indeed

According to Karen Wallin, the Chief Executive Officer of Special Olympics GB,
“This is a day we look forward to every year, when we recognise the outstanding dedication of our volunteers.  Most of them work a full day and in the evenings and weekends devote their free time to enriching the lives of the learning disabled people. Without them, there would be no Special Olympics.” 
Gaye Barber, Special Olympics Great Britain National Volunteer Manager added,
“Our goal is to try and double the number of volunteers we have by 2013 and in doing so ensure that more people with a Learning Disability have an opportunity to take part in regular sports training and competition. It’s important to take a moment and celebrate the contribution and achievements of all our volunteers, to express our thanks and to show how much they are valued.”

Lovely citation

Victoria is just finishing her degree course in Cardiff and her citation said,
“Victoria Jones, 21 is the winner of Special Olympics GB’s Newcomer Volunteer Award.  But Victoria is not new to volunteering and for the past ten years has donated her free time to people with special needs as a volunteer Gymnastics coach.   She coaches every Thursday at the Pembrokeshire Club and attends monthly Gymnastics squad sessions with Special Olympics Wales when she is not at school. 
Victoria is currently studying for a degree at Cardiff in sport coaching & performance and holds a Welsh Gymnastics special needs assistant coaching awards as well as Level Two general gymnastics awards. She also has a Level Three diploma in Health, Safety, Security and Employment standard, a Level Three diploma in sports massage therapy, and the certificate in fitness instructing Level Two.

Keen coach

She has volunteered as a coach at two Special Olympics National Summer Games in Glasgow 2005 and Leicester 2009, and is honoured to be coaching at Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens 2011.
In 2010, Victoria won the Young Coach of the Year Award at the Wales Gymnastic Awards and the Coach of the Year Awards at the Pembrokeshire Sport Awards.  
According to Victoria:
 “I am just doing what I love – gymnastics and helping people.  It’s so nice to be honoured for being passionate about my sport and Special Olympics.”
PembrokeshireSport.co.uk is delighted to announce Victoria’s achievement, which is well deserved, to say the least