Jo Williams has played a key part in Sport Pembrokeshire development team, which operates under the watchful eye of Ben Field, for almost two decades and she features this week in our latest article to let you know about the committed team of people in County Hall who provide such great  support for all sports and leisure activities in our county . . .

She was set a series of questions and the answers below show her commitment to the cause!
 
Can you tell us about your background in sport?

My family always enjoyed participating in a range of sports and my poor parents; like many, spent their weekends driving me to dance classes and my brother to football.  I enjoyed all sports growing up and loved trying new ones, including yoga and aerobics, whether it was at school or in the community. I continued with these through secondary school and university and now as an adult. 

I studied Primary Education at UWIC - now the Cardiff Met - and specialised in PE.  It is here that I worked with specialists in the field and where my enthusiasm and passion for encouraging children to participate in sport started.  I gained confidence in teaching and coaching through my experiences in schools in the Cardiff area and hoped to pursue this when I had my own teaching position.

How did you get into role at Sport Pembrokeshire?

I started as the Dragon Sport Co-ordinator in 2003, working with schools and community clubs to organise fun, purposeful, engaging activities to encourage children to be more physically active. I am currently the Active Young People Manager and Peripatetic PE Manager for Sport Pembrokeshire.  

What does your job involve?

I line manage the Primary Schools’ Active young people officers that work alongside pupils and staff, supporting high quality sporting experiences within primary schools.  They provide safe and fun activities for pupils to increase confidence and motivation as well as improving their physical competence. They also support school staff, community coaches, young leaders and parents to develop their knowledge and understanding of delivering activities to ensure the pupils have a lifelong interest in sport.

The peripatetic team deliver PE lessons and physical activity during teacher planning and preparation time covering the whole of Pembrokeshire.  The majority of the team are qualified teachers and offer a variety of different activities to suit the level of ability and experience of the pupils.

I am also the regional representative on the Sport Wales National focus group for Foundations which aims to bring together a collaboration of partners to streamline thinking and resources, share good practice and shape policy.

Why it is so important to keep investing in school and community sport for youngsters?
 
Children feel more confident and motivated if they have positive attitudes to sport and physical activity from an early age, and are more likely to have a lifelong interest in being healthy and physically active.
 
What are your hopes for school sport in Pembrokeshire in the future?

To create a more active and healthy Pembrokeshire, where sport and physical activity is part of everyone’s lives.

Interesting sporting facts about yourself?

I have a relative that has played rugby for Wales and British Lions and I was photo bombed by Warren Gatland in Edinburgh airport!