What is your educational/working background?

I was into sport at school and played in the teams, but I never really excelled at any particular sport. After passing my A Levels in PE, geography and English I went on a gap year to Australia, where I worked as a student teacher in a primary and secondary school, gaining a broad range of knowledge and experience. I also looked after the school hockey team. Whilst in Australia I applied to the University of Wales Institute at Cardiff to do Sports Science. They advised me that due to my experience I was probably better off doing a Sports Development degree. I played in the university hockey team and also joined a local rowing club in Cardiff and I’m still there now, six years on. At the end of my second year I began a one year work placement at Caerphilly County Borough Council as an assistant sports development officer. When I went back to university they offered me a part-time job whilst I finished my degree. I became an officer in my own right, developing things like racquet sports and looking at funding. Whilst I was still at university I applied for and got a job within the department looking at the New Opportunities Fund bid. This meant balancing a full time job with my degree and rowing training, but it just made me more organised. I worked on the funding bids for about eight months and then the post of Women and Girls Sports Development Officer came up. I’ve been in this position for two years.

What are your main responsibilities?

It’s my responsibility to create sporting opportunities for women and girls, developing programmes and ensure coordination between the sports-specific development officers. I run a lot of consultations with user groups, talking to schools, youth groups and community groups. I do a lot of work with leisure centres and schools, especially the comprehensives. One of the highlights was taking a girls’ netball team to Malta. It was the first time some of them had flown and we had a brilliant time. I’m also currently lecturing in the University of Wales Institute at Cardiff on the HND course.

Do you work alone or in a team?

There are 13 of us in the sports develoment department and we all work together quite closely. We are a good unit, there is a lot of communication and regular updates between us to make ure there is a real coordination of effort. I also work with other partners; e.g. the Health Board, the police and youth forums.

What would a typical day contain for you?

I arrive in the office and check my email, and chase up anything that’s outstanding from the day before. There is a lot of officebased work with sport development. Although I’m running a lot of initiatives there is no way I could run them all myself so I have a pool of coaches delivering them. I have to make sure I am up-to-date with the coaches and how they are getting on. We have flexible working hours so if we are working in the evening we can come in a bit later on. My day usually starts at 8am, after I’ve been training. Sometimes I have evening meetings, other days I can finish at 5pm, but there is evening and weekend work. With flexi hours and time in lieu it’s all manageable.

Why did you choose a career in the sport and recreation industry?

Through careers guidance at school it seemed that my main interest was working in sport, not playing at an elite level but working in an administration role.
 
What do you like least?

When I set up a really good scheme and no one turned up! I overcame that by doing more taster sessions and better marketing.

What skills are important in your job?

Communication, time keeping and organisation, energy and motivation!

What training have you received whilst in your job?

I’ve done the Community Sports Leader Award tutor training, the Quest Assessor Training and various Institute of Leisure and Amenity Management courses including, ‘how to write successful grant applications’, and ‘social inclusion awareness’. It’s important to try and find time to develop your own skills.

Is there anything else you wish you had a chance to learn, develop or practice?

I’m on a Women’s Leadership Management Course at the moment for aspiring senior officers. It’s been brilliant as management is something I would like to progress on to.
I’m managing some of the department at the moment for my own experience and development. The course has given me excellent skills in all different areas; understanding organisations, leadership styles and theories, and presentation skills.

What are your career aspirations?

Long term I’d like to work with the Sports Council for Wales or maybe for the Women’s Sports Foundation. I enjoy the strategy and planning side of sports development.

What is the best way to get into the sport industry?

I would recommend that every student does work experience. Although a lot of employers ask for a degree, you can do sports development without one as long as you have the experience to back it up.