As we enter the final weeks of term, we bring to a close Sporting Marvels sixth year in the schools of Rhondda.

Phil said, “We’ve known since late last year that this September will, one way or another, usher in a new era. We don’t know what form that will take yet of course, but we continue to lay tracks into our future. Clive and I are very happy with our team and while  any team changes this summer will take place in the shadow of our problems with the UK Border Agency, we expect to hit the ground running!”

The ultra-successful Night of Champions enjoyed a strong debut at Treorchy Comprehensive School at the beginning on June.  

The invitation-only event sees Rhondda’s most influential youngsters - the peer group leaders - brought into a closed environment where they can be influenced by the Marvels and by some of our older All Stars.

Sixteen year-old Delme Davies is a young man with a great future.

While others received certificates for their achievements at Ferndale Community School, Delme walked away with the Oscar: the All Stars Compact Award!! 

Last month, we had the pleasure of welcoming former Marvel Rebecca Chapman to Rhondda, in town for Becky’s wedding and her duties as a bridesmaid.  
Well, this month it’s Kate’s turn!

June/July is appraisal time for our Junior School partners and the first two received this year are from our two Porth schools, Porth Juniors and YGG Llwyncelyn.

In each case, Mighty Marvel Chris Bullock gets rave reviews. 

It’s been a week of tears as long-serving Marvel Elroy Duckitt and his lovely wife Meagan, bid Rhondda farewell and head back to their native South Africa.

The way we view Elroy is very much a point of record so, wondering how to best sign-off his time with us, we thought we’d give centre stage to Peter Jenkins, his headteacher at Ferndale Community School. This is what Mr. Jenkins (above) said on camera, in an interview for our website. 

Last week, some of the Marvels took twenty-eight Year 8 (age 12 & 13) All- Star pupils down to World Horizons Centre in Llanelli for a mini Boot Camp.

The trip was part of the new leadership course pathway which is based around commitment and trust.  After a very early start, the group arrived in Llanelli for a briefing before being taken to the Brecon Beacon National Park to explore the Black Mountains!

“We split the group into teams from each of the Comps - Treorchy, Ferndale, Tonypandy and Porth County,” Christiaan told us, “And their tasks were based around three adventures: underground caving, a long trek across the mountains and a search and rescue operation. These adventures give the youngsters a chance to experience real life skills in leadership and teamwork and also gives them space to grow and discover more of their capabilities in facing and overcoming challenges!”

It’s only when you’re faced with major challenges and fears, that your true character is exposed and so these adventure days are perfect for forming the future role models for the younger kids in Rhondda!

Catherine Chowa enjoyed six months training in Wales last year before returning to Tanzania last October to begin our work in the schools of Tanga, Tanzania.

Distances in East Africa aren’t like in Rhondda and getting from A to B can take forever! Public transportation isn’t exactly like taking a London bus what with chickens, goats vying with people for a seat!!

If you’ve been partnering with us for any length of time, you’ll be familiar with the term Night of Champions.

The roster for the invitation-only event reads like a Who’s Who of Rhondda’s most influential youngsters. These guys are the pick of the crop, the peer group leaders who point the way, good or bad, right or wrong, for the rest of Rhondda’s teen society.

This month, we want to let you into a secret: the ingredients for a very special recipe!

Take over four hundred 10 & 11 year-old marvellous kids, add ten Sporting Marvels workers, a few All Stars, mix in a desire to see Rhondda cleaner than ever before, and then supply dozens of plastic bags, latex gloves and assorted grabbers!