Portal Connect | Sport | March 2024

Connect

IN THIS ISSUE:

• CIMSPA APPROVAL

• COMMUNITY FOCUS

• LIVING WELL WITH LLOYD ASHLEY

• EMPLOYER ENGAGEMENT

SPORT EDITION | MARCH 2024

Croeso i Portal Connect...

Welcome to the Sport edition of Portal Connect!

For this issue, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Lloyd Ashley, former professional rugby player turned Mental Health and Wellbeing Lead for the Welsh Rugby Players Association, to discuss the intersection of sports and mental wellness.

We're also shining a light on our fully funded Activity Leadership qualification pathways, designed to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge to excel in the field of coaching and fitness instructing.

Additionally, get ready to dive into the world of martial arts as we introduce you to Cardiff Central Kung Fu Club.

Whether you're a seasoned athlete, a budding sports enthusiast, or simply interested in promoting wellness in your organisation, this edition has something for everyone.

So, take five minutes out of your day, grab a cuppa and join us as we connect with our colleagues, clubs and organisations across the sports sector.

We're CIMSPA approved!

Portal are pleased to announce we are now an approved CIMSPA Training Provider Partner.

The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) serves as the professional development body for the UK’s sport and physical activity sector.

Its purpose is to shape a respected, regulated and recognised sector that everyone wants to be a part of, and that others are confident interacting with. CIMSPA works with stakeholders across and beyond the sports sector to achieve this goal.

What does this mean?

Portal’s training programmes have been quality assured and approved by CIMSPA. This approved partnership status highlights that our training activity/programmes will significantly contribute to the development of individuals' knowledge, skills and other competencies to support their professional and personal development within the sports sector.

With a growing number of employers committing to only using CIMSPA recognised training, this provides a powerful “stamp of approval” that Portal are excited to achieve.

Community focus: Cardiff Central Kung Fu

In this issue we shine a light on Cardiff Central Kung Fu. A martial arts club founded over 15 years ago by Sifu Pace, a 7th degree black belt.

Cardiff Central Kung Fu club is part of the kung fu system Shaolin Gao Can Mun Nam Pai Chuan (GCMNPC), originating from Shaolin temples in northern and southern China. GCMNPC is now one of the largest and most respected kung fu schools in the world.

As well as teaching traditional Shaolin forms, skills, and fighting applications, Cardiff Central Kung Fu is an excellent place to develop fighting and sparring skills relevant for selfdefence and modern sparring. It’s a fun, safe and welcoming environment for all, with experienced instructors.

Their classes are excellent for developing fitness, coordination, a passion for Chinese martial arts, and fighting skills. Whether you want to learn self-defence, develop your confidence, or simply find a community of passionate martial artists striving for excellence, Cardiff Central Kung Fu is the place for you!

CLASS INFORMATION:

Classes are held at:

Sport Wales National Centre

Sophia Gardens

CF11 9SW (Free parking at the centre)

Mondays and Thursdays

Kids class: 7:15 - 8:15pm

Adults class: 8:15 - 10pm.

Anyone can train with Cardiff Central Kung Fu, and children are permitted to join from 5 yrs of age and upwards.

For further information, please visit: www.cardiffcentralkungfu.org.uk

or contact Lisa Jordaan, senior instructor under Sifu Pace on: 07932 936 81

Reshaping mental health in rugby: A conversation with Lloyd Ashley

In the high-stakes world of professional rugby, where physical prowess often takes centre stage, the importance of mental health and wellbeing can sometimes be overlooked.

However, Lloyd Ashley, Director of Living Well with Lloyd Ashley (LWLA) and Mental Health and Wellbeing Lead for the Welsh Rugby Players Association (WRPA), is on a mission to change that. Through his work, he aims to reshape the discourse surrounding mental health in rugby, ensuring that players have access to the support they need, both on and off the field.

Lloyd's journey into this role is a deeply personal one. Growing up, he witnessed his father's struggles with mental health, which impacted both him and his family.

"I vividly recall a time in my life, when I was representing Wales U20 in rugby and playing for the Ospreys. I was playing well, luckily things on the pitch were going to plan and that was probably my saving grace. Internally, I was grappling with unresolved issues," Lloyd shares.

"I adopted coping strategies like avoidance, anger, drinking a bit too much and keeping those that cared about me the most at arm’s length, especially my partner at the time, now wife. Thankfully as I matured, I realised the importance of addressing my emotional wellbeing."

Lloyd’s journey towards prioritising mental health and wellbeing stemmed not only from his personal experiences but also his passion for professional development.

Following the completion of his ILM Leadership & Management qualification, Portal’s Directors recognised his potential and suggested enrolling on An Introduction to Counselling course. This pivotal step completely altered Lloyd’s career path, leading him to pursue a career focused on mental health and wellbeing. Armed with new-found knowledge and passion, eventually he found himself uniquely positioned to make a significant impact in the lives of others, particularly within the rugby community.

"In my role, I aim to create a safe space for open dialogue and meaningful conversations about mental health," Lloyd explains. "We facilitate sessions and workshops aimed at promoting emotional literacy and resilience among players."

One of the key initiatives Lloyd has spearheaded, with the help and support of psychologists Steve Mellalieu (Ospreys) and Dr Dale Thomas (WRU) is the Resilience for Rugby programme. The programme aims to promote mental health awareness among young rugby players in Wales. Ensuring young athletes are aware and understand the stresses that come with being a professional rugby player and well equipped to talk about it.

"We started by focusing on the Academy system, but we've since expanded our programme to include sessions for first-team players across all senior professional teams in Wales," Lloyd

says. "Our goal is to ensure that mental health support is accessible to players at every stage of their career."

Lloyd Ashley is not only committed to providing support for mental health within the rugby community but also advocates for a shift in the language and approach to discussions surrounding wellbeing.

"In my experience, mental health discussions can sometimes focus too much on the extreme end of the spectrum," Lloyd explains. "When I ask people, what do you think when you hear the term 'mental health’? The answer can range from big anxiety, depression to psychosis and suicide. We often refer to the far end of the scale, to that crisis point where somebody's really struggling. We need to broaden our language and approach when discussing wellbeing," Lloyd asserts. "It's not just about crisis moments; it's about our day-to-day experiences and how we navigate the ups and downs of life."

By shifting the focus away from crisis points and towards a more inclusive discussion of wellbeing, Lloyd believes that we can break down stereotypes and stigma surrounding mental health.

"It's essential to create an environment where everyone feels comfortable discussing their struggles without fear of judgment or shame," Lloyd says. "Whether it's checking in on

It's essential to create an environment where everyone feels comfortable discussing their struggles without fear of judgment or shame

Lloyd Ashley Director of LWLA

/livingwellwithlloydashley

/lloyd-ashley-living-well

teammates during injuries or acknowledging and validating feelings of frustration and anger, we need to normalise these conversations as part of our everyday lives."

Through his advocacy for changing the language around wellbeing, Lloyd is paving the way for more open and empathetic discussions surrounding mental health. By acknowledging the everyday challenges that individuals face and fostering a supportive environment for dialogue, he hopes to create a society where everyone feels empowered to prioritise their mental and emotional wellbeing.

"My ultimate goal is to render my role obsolete," Lloyd says. "Imagine a society where emotional support is so deeply rooted and supported that specialised interventions like mine and others become unnecessary."

While Lloyd acknowledges that there's still much work to be done, he remains hopeful about the progress that has been made and the potential for positive change in the future.

Living Well With Lloyd Ashley (LWLA) has been established to provide wellbeing solutions across a range of organisations, including businesses, educational settings and sports clubs.

If you're looking to improve the support for your people or interested in finding out more, visit: www.lwla.co.uk

Fully funded Activity Leadership pathways...

Turn your passion for fitness instructing or coaching into a thriving career with one of our fully funded Level 2 qualifications...

Activity Leadership Coaching Pathway

• 15 month programme

• Fully funded

If you're passionate about coaching and eager to transform your enthusiasm into a rewarding career, our Coaching Pathway qualification offers an ideal route into the dynamic world of sports coaching.

Our Level 2 qualification is ideal for individuals occupying relevant activity leadership roles, grassroot sports coaches, leisure operatives, community sports officers, club coaches, and anyone aspiring to delve into the realm of coaching.

Designed to equip learners with the skills and knowledge necessary to plan, deliver, and evaluate a series of linked and progressive coaching sessions, the Coaching Pathway covers essential principles and practices of safe, ethical, and effective coaching in various sports environments. This qualification provides the tools and guidance needed to thrive in the vibrant field of sports coaching.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Fitness Instructing pathway

Clare Jeffries

Director of Operations

07375 392422

clare.jeffries@portaltraining.co.uk

Coaching pathway

Shawn Staples

Sports and Third Sector Relations Lead 07706 330206

shawn.staples@portaltraining.co.uk

Our Activity Leadership: Fitness Instructing Pathway is delivered in partnership with Leisure Active Training (LA Training).

LA Training deliver high-quality training and learning experiences across a range of courses within the leisure industry. As part of our partnership, LA Training will deliver the Certificate in Fitness Instructing (Gym) Units during months 4-7 of the programme.

For further information about LA Training and their range of courses, visit: www.la-training.co.uk

Activity Leadership Fitness Instructing Pathway

• 15 month programme

• Fully funded

If you’re a fitness enthusiast looking to turn your passion into a profession, our Activity Leadership qualification is your pathway to a thriving career in the Health and Fitness sector.

The Fitness Instructing Pathway is designed for those who have responsibility for the planning and delivery of safe and effective exercise programmes within a gym or health club environment.

Delivered in conjunction with Leisure Active Training, this qualification is ideal for anyone aspiring to pursue a career as a gym-based Fitness Instructor or Personal Trainer.

Together, we will develop your skills to prepare, plan and deliver safe and effective exercise programmes within a gym or health club environment.

Employer engagement and endorsements

We are thrilled to share some recent feedback from sporting organisations that have engaged with our training programmes during the past 12 months.

We would also like to extend a warm Portal welcome to all of our new customers.

Over the past 12 months, Table Tennis Wales have been utilising the training opportunities and courses provided by Portal Training.

Currently, we have eight staff members progressing through Level 4 and 5 ILM Leadership and Management qualifications.

These qualifications are supporting our staff to further develop their leadership skills, supporting the team with resources and theories of different models, enabling our workforce to have greater impact on daily operations.

Whilst staff are actively working together to apply these models, it’s providing us with a greater insight into our organisational strengths and areas where we require a greater level of development. This process enables us to identify and consider any gaps in our organisation where investment is needed.

The qualifications are not only greatly supporting our organisation, but most importantly providing great professional development opportunities for our staff, supporting them with career progression.

You have recognised the value of investing in the development of your workforce and we are absolutely delighted that you have chosen us to work alongside you.

The staff at Portal Training are really engaging, very professional and work with each of our staff members to meet their individual needs.

The ILM assessors provide a great learning environment and we as a National Governing Body are keen to continue to progress the relationship with Portal Training to further enhance both our staff and organisation.

Simon Oyler Business Development Ma Table Tennis Wales

It has been good working with Portal to support a number of the Welsh Cycling team on their professional development journeys.

The support and flexible approach shown by the team at Portal is really helping to get the best out of my team.

Caroline Spanton Chief Executive Officer Welsh Cycling

Completing and committing to continuous learning alongside balancing intense day jobs, is always a challenge within the Sports sector, but the support and flexible approach shown by the team at Portal is really helping to get the best out of my team.

Together we are ensuring they are all pushing forwards for personal and professional growth to amplify their impact for Cycling across Wales.

The support we've received from Portal has been invaluable, and I'm optimistic that our investment in developing future leaders through this platform will yield significant rewards for Cricket Wales in the long run.

Mark White Wales Area Manager Criced Cymru

Diolch/Thank you...

We hope you enjoyed the latest edition of Portal Connect.

If you would like to contribute to the next edition or have a community club, team or event to promote, please get in touch!

CONTACT:

Helen Hallam

Marketing, Design and Communications Manager

07711 596558

helen.hallam@portaltraining.co.uk

If you would like further information regarding any of our Sports sector qualifications, please contact:

Shawn Staples

Sports and Third Sector Relations Lead

07706 330206

shawn.staples@portaltraining.co.uk