Boys' and Girls' Clubs of Wales

Last updated

Boys and Girls Clubs of Wales is a national youth work organisation (Charity Number 1009142); which offers support and assistance to youth throughout the most deprived areas of Wales. Founded in 1922, the charity first began as a Boys Club in Treharris as a place for young males to retreat for leisure and education after working in the coal mines. Since then, Boys and Girls Clubs of Wales has expanded throughout all of Wales, offering opportunities to both boys and girls aged 11 to 25 years.

Contents

Boys and Girls Clubs of Wales offers opportunities for young people residing in disadvantaged areas of Wales, to enhance their skillset and employment prospects through their transition into adulthood. The organisation currently has over 170 affiliated clubs in Wales, with over 30,000 youth taking part in its activities and 3,500 volunteer mentors bringing their life experiences and leadership in a variety of interests and disciplines. The organisation's main purpose, as stated in its constitution, is "to assist in the process of moral, cultural, mental and physical development of young people, so as to ensure a smooth transition into adulthood and its responsibilities."

History

In 1922 the first Boys' Club opened in Treharris, founded by Captain John Glynn-Jones (Captain Glynn [1] ) and David Davies. Captain Glynn was the welfare officer of Davies' Ocean Group of Collieries, which had coal mines all across South Wales. Captain Glynn had become concerned with the welfare of what were known as "collier boys", youth working in the mines, and developed the idea of a club boys could join that would encourage cultural activities, discipline and a healthy lifestyle. Other clubs followed the Treharris club, opening in Nantymoel, Ton Pentre, Treorchy, Wattstown and Nine Mile Point. [1]

Captain Glynn, believing unity between clubs should be fostered, eventually the idea of a camp where members of different clubs could attend. The first of two of these camps, the St Athan Boys' Camp, opened in 1925, with the second, the Abercrave Adventure Centre, opening in 1958. In August 1928, after a meeting of Boys' Club leaders at the St Athan camp, the various existing clubs united as The South Wales Federation of Boys' Clubs. [1]

In 1936 a process of decentralisation took place. This allowed larger clubs to become responsible for local satellite clubs. The majority of leaders for these clubs came from the larger 'parent' clubs, instead of having leaders travel large distances to and from clubs. There were twelve club areas in the region of South Wales after this took effect. [1]

In 1991 the organisation expanded to officially allow girls within the organisation, changing its name to the Boys' and Girls' Club of Wales, and became a charity-based organisation in 1992. [1] [2] In 2006 it changed its name once more, to Clubs for Young People Wales, but after some time retook its former name. [3]

Projects

Boys' and Girls' Clubs of Wales sponsors multiple projects:

Sports

The Boys' and Girls' Clubs of Wales have been doing sports in their clubs for over eighty years. The sports are used as an instrument for social cohesion for young people, as a way of keeping them actively engaged within the clubs and their specific communities.

The main sports used within the Boys' and Girls' Clubs of Wales are:

Many clubs also do many other sports and outdoor pursuits.

The Rugby Section of the organisation has two teams, Under 16 and Youth. Both teams play scheduled fixtures which include an away match against Belgium. Many successful Welsh Rugby players have played for the 'Boys Clubs' and have gone on to have successful careers. Welsh and Lions squad member Richard Hibbard is one such player who has come through these ranks.

The Boys' and Girls' clubs of Wales have both male and female teams, each with their own successes.

The Boys' teams have been competing for over sixty years with each season ending with an under 14's, 16's and 18's match against the Scottish Boys' and Girls' Clubs. Each team has their own leagues that they also compete in. Finally, once a year, the under 18 side take part in the TSV Eltingen (Germany) invitation International Championship.

The Girls' teams are growing in strength and numbers. Always looking to expand within the area the season finishes with a set of fixtures at the Rose Bowl Championship which is held in Northern Ireland every Summer

The sport of boxing is heavily used for engaging the young people of Wales. It has been a tradition of the Boys' club since the early roots of its existence. Joe Calzaghe was one such name to have come through the ranks of these Welsh clubs as a youngster.

Youth work

The Boys' and Girls' Clubs of Wales have been delivering youth work now for over eighty years and is at the forefront of youth work within Wales. The main aim is to support and assist in the physical, educational and ethical development of young people, through their leisure time activities.

Throughout all activities of the organisation the Boys' and Girls' Clubs make use of the 'Principles and Practice of Youth Work' and ensure that all our Youth Work remains Educative, Expressive, Participative and Empowering.

Previous members

Lynn Davies - 1964 Olympic Long Jump Gold Medalist. The memories that Lynn got here were of a 'warm welcoming place were we were encouraged to take part and enjoy the companionship' of the many friends he made. Lynn also describes how the Clubs helped develop confidence and self-esteem. [1]

Joe Calzaghe - World Light Heavyweight Champion in 2007, known throughout the world as 'The Pride of Wales'. Joe is also considered by many to be the most successful British boxer of all time.

John Hartson - Ex Arsenal and Welsh footballer. John testifies how the organisation gave him his first opportunity to represent Wales as a sportsmen. [1]

Nathan Cleverly - WBO Light Heavyweight Champion 2010. Nathan started his career in the Clubs for Young People UK Boxing Championships. [1]

Alan Curtis - Swansea, Cardiff and Welsh footballer.

Richard Hibbard - Welsh and Lions rugby player.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neath</span> Town in south Wales

Neath is a market town and community situated in the Neath Port Talbot County Borough, Wales. The town had a population of 50,658 in 2011. The community of the parish of Neath had a population of 19,258 in 2011. Historically in Glamorgan, the town is located on the River Neath, seven miles east-northeast of Swansea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pontypridd RFC</span> Rugby team

Pontypridd Rugby Football Club is a rugby union team from Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. It competes in the Indigo Group Premiership, that it won for four consecutive seasons between 2012 and 2015, and the WRU National Cup, that it has won on 6 different occasions, the most recent being in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cardiff RFC</span> Welsh rugby union club, based in Cardiff

Cardiff Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. The club was founded in 1876 and played their first few matches at Sophia Gardens, shortly after which relocating to Cardiff Arms Park where they have been based ever since.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newbridge, Caerphilly</span> Human settlement in Wales

Newbridge is a town and community in the county borough of Caerphilly, south Wales. It lies within the historic boundaries of the county of Monmouthshire.

Thomas Gerald Reames Davies CBE DL is a Welsh former rugby union wing who played international rugby for Wales between 1966 and 1978. He is one of a small group of Welsh players to have won three Grand Slams including Gareth Edwards, J. P. R. Williams, Ryan Jones, Adam Jones, Gethin Jenkins and Alun Wyn Jones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Urdd Gobaith Cymru</span> Welsh voluntary youth organisation

Urdd Gobaith Cymru is a national voluntary youth organisation, which claimed over 56,000 members in 2019 aged between 8 and 25. It provides opportunities for children and young people across Wales to take part in a range of experiences through the medium of Welsh. The Urdd turned 100 on 25 January 2022 and celebrated by breaking two Guinness World Records.

This article is about the particular significance of the year 2006 to Wales and its people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Treharris</span> Human settlement in Wales

Treharris is a small town and community in the Taff Bargoed Valley in the south of Merthyr Tydfil County Borough, South Wales. It is located about 0.6 miles (1.0 km) west of Trelewis, from which it is separated by the Taff Bargoed river, and 0.9 miles (1.4 km) from Nelson in Caerphilly county borough and has a population of 6,356 from the 2011 Census. As a community, Treharris includes the villages of Quakers Yard and Edwardsville. Due to steepness and narrowness of both the Taff and Taff Bargoed valleys at Treharris several notable bridges and viaducts have been built in the area.

Penarth Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club based since 1924 at The Athletic Field, Lavernock Road, in Penarth, in the Vale of Glamorgan in Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sport in Wales</span>

Sport in Wales plays a prominent role in Welsh culture. Like the other countries of the United Kingdom, Wales enjoys independent representation in major world sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup and in the Rugby World Cup, but competes as part of Great Britain in some other competitions, including the Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Matthews (rugby union)</span> Rugby player

Jack Matthews was a Welsh physician and rugby union international centre who played first-class club rugby for Cardiff and Newport. Along with Bleddyn Williams, Matthews formed a centre partnership which is regarded as one of the finest in the game. He was also a devastating tackler, once described as "a cross between a bulldozer and a brick wall". Matthews won 17 caps for Wales and six with the British Lions, though his career was curtailed by the Second World War. Matthews was a general practitioner by profession and travelled with the 1980 Lions on their tour of South Africa as the team doctor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tumble RFC</span> Welsh rugby union football club

Tumble RFC or Clwb Rygbi Y Tymbl (Welsh) is a rugby union club representing the village of Tumble, near Llanelli in Carmarthenshire, South Wales. The club is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for the Llanelli Scarlets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boys Village</span> Human settlement in Wales

St Athan Boys' Village was a village-style holiday camp located in West Aberthaw, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales.

Trebanos Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team officially founded in 1897. Trebanos RFC is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for the Ospreys.

The Newbridge Boxing Club is a boxing gym operated by Enzo Calzaghe and based in Newbridge in South Wales. The club has been one of the most successful of recent years, at one point in 2007 boasting three genuine world champions in Joe Calzaghe, Enzo Maccarinelli and Gavin Rees. Other fighters of note who have won belts at the club include former Commonwealth light middleweight champion Bradley Pryce and former WBU champion and world title challenger Gary Lockett who retired in Sept 2008.

Corus Rugby Football Club was a Welsh rugby union clubs based in Port Talbot. It is now known as Tata Steel RFC, the club is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for the Ospreys.

Boxing is a popular sport in Wales, and since the early 20th century Wales has produced a notable number of professional boxers including several World Champions. The most notable boxers include Wales' first World Champion Percy Jones; Jimmy Wilde, who is seen as pound-for-pound one of the World's finest boxers and Joe Calzaghe, who ended his career an undefeated World Champion.

Athletics has a long history in Wales, with many events recognised today codified during the Victorian period. The first amateur athletic clubs in Wales were formed in the 1870s, while the first championships began in the early 20th century. Wales began competing as a country in international athletic events in the 1920s and has since produced a notable number of world class sportspeople including many medal winning Commonwealth, World, Olympic, Paralympic and European champions. Wales competes in the Commonwealth Games under its own flag but at the Olympic Games, Welsh athletes compete alongside those of Scotland, England and Northern Ireland as part of a Great Britain team.

The Wales national rugby union team toured Australia in May and June 2007, playing two tests against the Australia national team as part of their preparation for the 2007 Rugby World Cup. They lost the first test in Sydney 29–23 before being shut out in the second, losing 31–0 in Brisbane, and Australia claimed the newly inaugurated James Bevan Trophy with a 2–0 series win.

There are many national organisations in the United Kingdom and its overseas territories that have been established to provide services to people under the age of 18.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Clubs for Young People Wales (2009). "Timeline 28–08: A history of the Boy's Club Movement in Wales" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2013-04-30.
  2. ↑ BBC Wales History (17 March 2010). "A history of the boys' club movement in Wales".
  3. ↑ Edwards, Dave (21 February 2013). "Boys and Girls Clubs of Wales chief says movement will keep its identity despite buildings opening to other organisations".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.