Angela deserves our ‘Star of the Month' Award!

Angela Miles set out in her new role as Disability Sports Development Officer with Pembrokeshire County Council in February 2006 and in the intervening 13+ years has worked tirelessly to raise the profile of people of all ages who have a disability so they can enjoy taking part across the sporting spectrum.

She has done a great job and that is why we are delighted to present her with our ‘Star of the Month’ award for July 2019!

Ben recognises her infectious enthusiasm

She is rightly proud of the intense work she has put in to promote disability sport since she first joined Sport Pembrokeshire under the leadership of Ben Field, the manager of the group who work out of County Hall.

But the fact that she does so much more than is expected of her is evident when Ben Field told us,

"We are immensely proud of our development in this vital area and much of the progress is down to Angela's work, infectious enthusiasm and total commitment.

"It is never shown better than in her work as part of the 'insport' programme, where we are one of only six authorities who have achieved the Silver Award and we are now working towards achieving the Gold Award in recognition of our quest for inclusion in all sporting clubs."

Over 40 clubs now involved

There are already 40 local clubs in Pembrokeshire on the 'insport' programme, with 20 having received the ribbon award and another 17 working towards the criteria needed to gain this success by making sure that the club is working hard to achieve them and ensure their sport is available to all.

Two have already moved on to achieve the bronze award, with the Pembrokeshire Special Education Needs Gymnastics Club already completing the Silver Award through some fantastic work which is now leading them on to work towards the coveted Gold Award.

The statistical proof of such great work across the county can be judged by the fact that in 2015, when Angela and Co started to promote the programme, which she has total belief in and commitment to, there were 344 members of 14 clubs, alongside 151 coaches and 117 volunteers.

Significant growth

Year on year since then there has been a significant growth and in 2018 there were no fewer than 1,222 members in those clubs, with 348 coaches and 216 volunteers, with Angela visiting a host of clubs to put them on the right track towards achieving accreditation!

Another huge achievement has been the formation of The Scarlets' Wheelchair Rugby group in acquiring 13 brand-new specialist wheelchairs of its own, with a very strong committee organised and the participants already looking ahead to the Junior British Championships at Stoke Mandeville.

Despite doing all this great work, Angela is also a keen founder member of Fishguard and Goodwick Hockey Club, where she played and coached for many years alongside being secretary - and was involved when the club acquired its own artificial playing field.

Started involvement in Goodwick Junior School

She started out her interest in disability sport when she became a learning support assistant for Sian Jones at Goodwick Junior School in 1987 and who has developed into one of the best boccia players in the county.

Angela loved her work so much that she eventually became the Special Education Needs Sixth Form Co-ordinator at Ysgol Bro Gwaun and in her lunch times organised a multi-sports and swimming club and at the same time started to study for her GNVQ Level Three in 'Working With Young People' and her foundation degree in 'Education and Social Inclusion'.

When she eventually completed her full degree she was understandably delighted, as were husband John, daughter Michelle and son Paul, who have all provided great support.

Whole range of sport – including Jacob at London Paralympics

During her stint in her role she has also enjoyed working with the Pembrokeshire Puffins Swimming Club and the Preseli Warriors Football team - whilst the growth of the Pembrokeshire Disability Gymnastics Club is another source of great pride for Angela, alongside The Haverfordwest Hawks and the Tenby Tenderfoots as a real bonus.

And seeing boccia star Jacob Thomas competing in the London Paralympics was a wonderful experience she will never forget!

She has clearly discovered her working role in life but works far more than her job description suggests and she told us,

"If anyone with a disability wants to try a new sport then I can be contacted at County Hall or by logging on to the Disability Sport Wales web site, where there is a dedicated section for Pembrokeshire.

"I guarantee that if there is a chance of someone getting involved I will do my level best for them - and if I don't know the sport I will try to find out."

And do you know what? We award Angela Miles our 'Star of the Month' for July 2019 safe in the knowledge that she will do just that!