10. Short Debate: The more I practice, the luckier I am: Sports facilities in our rural communities

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:44 pm on 9 February 2022.

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Photo of Jane Dodds Jane Dodds Liberal Democrat 5:44, 9 February 2022

Just another angle—I won't repeat what's been said and I have no claim to any sporting abilities either—I asked a young person in a little village called Llandinam, which has 911 people, in Montgomeryshire, what would help him and what did help him when he was growing up in terms of involvement in sports activities, and he said 'youth workers'. And so I'd just like to pitch here for more youth workers. We've seen a massive decline in youth workers across Wales, and it does make a difference in order to engage young people from different communities in order to be able to take part in sports. I was very lucky to visit Shedz in Blaenau Ffestiniog where they've got an amazing set-up there of youth workers who are engaging with young people. So, let's move forward as soon as we can, but let's look at how we can also get more youth workers to engage with young people to allow them to take part in sports activities. Diolch yn fawr iawn.