The Active Young People Department is made up of the Dragon Sport programme, PE and School Sport (PESS) and 5x60 programme.
Dragon Sport
The Dragon Sport is a Sports Council of Wales (SCW) programme to work with pupils aged 7 to 11 years old in primary school and community clubs.
It covers eight sports athletics, cricket, football, golf, hockey netball, rugby and tennis.
At present all 28 primary schools within the County Borough are part of the scheme.
Currently 13 community clubs are involved with the scheme. These are from clubs undertaking athletics, cricket, netball and rugby.
Dragon Sport also organizes primary school festivals in which the pupils have opportunities to play against other schools. Throughout the year festivals are organized in most sports
Athletics takes place in the Spring and Summer Term.
This is in the form of Cross Country in the Spring term where each school has an opportunity to enter a team in their local area, with the two winners reaching the Blaenau Gwent finals which take place on Duffryn Park.
In the Summer term we have Town Athletics events one in each of the four areas. Pupils who finish first or second are then invited to the Blaenau Gwent finals which take place on Brynmawr Track. In 2009 over 1,000 pupils took part in the athletics event
Fun festivals are organized each term in football, netball and tag rugby. The County Borough is split into two and schools from each are invited.
In the summer Kwik Cricket festivals are run, again in each of the four areas. Two teams from each area go through to the Blaenau Gwent finals. From the Blaenau Gwent finals two schools go through to the Gwent finals, and if successful can go all the way to the National Finals.
5x60 programme.
The 5x60 programme is another SCW programme, which was introduced to build on the Dragon Sport work as pupils move into Comprehensive School.
Its role is to make significant inroads into the Welsh Assembly’s target of 90% of secondary pupils achieving 60 minutes of physical activity five times a week by 2020.
All Comprehensive Schools in the County Borough have a designated 5x60 officer who role is to organise and arrange clubs activities that pupils want to undertake.
This can range form traditional sports like netball and football to the new like Dodgeball and Rock-it-ball.
Opportunities are also offered in dance, marshal arts, golf, mountain biking, outdoor activities and well as a range of events in the pool.
These activities can take place before school during lunch after school and at weekends. The activities will be mainly targeting individuals that currently do not participate in sport or who are in danger of losing interest.
Young Leaders
Another important role of the AYP team is the development of a Young leader programme, which allows 15 to 18 year olds the chance to start a coaching career. Sports Leaders UK courses are offered to pupils in each of the Borough’s comprehensive school.
This programme is now going into its third year and so far almost 100 pupils have achieved this award.
They have then helped run Dragon Sport festivals, leagues and other activities in the 5x60 programme.
Some have also linked with community clubs to help coach the junior sections.
Current Officers
Paul Morgan Lead AYP Officer
Michael Beacham 5x60 officer Abertillery and Tredegar Comprehensives
Natasha Jones 5x60 officer Nantyglo Comprehensive
Rachel Jones 5x60 officer Brynmawr Comprehensive
Nick Prichard 5x60 officer Ebbw Vale and Glyncoed Comprehensives
