Sports Development
MonLife Sports Development team strive to ensure that all provisions are under pinned by the following ethos:
Purpose:
Embed, influence and promote residents to access lifelong active opportunities
Vision
Working together for a fairer, healthier and more active Monmouthshire
Mission
Enabling fair access for all where health and confidence is at the heart of our connected communities
MonLife Sports Development have a commitment to deliver on the following themes:
Education
Working to and in collaboration with education settings to facilitate opportunities for children to be physically active throughout the school day.
Project Overview – We work closely with all Monmouthshire Primary and Secondary Schools to increase participation and to encourage more children to be active in ways that work for them. Through taking a data led approach, we help teachers and school staff to make movement a natural part of the school day through a wide range of programmes and development packages.
Case Studies – See Food and Fun and School Swimming reports attached.
Useful Links:
Workforce
Building capability in the existing workforce to enhance the quality of provision, and increasing capacity by creating new pathways into employment.
Project Overview – Through our established volunteer programmes, post – 16 pathways into employment, and workforce development initiatives, we work closely with Leisure Services to create a highly skilled and passionate workforce that have the skills and training to deliver high quality physical activity opportunities for the residents of Monmouthshire. If you would like more information on any of these programmes please contact sport@monmouthshire.gov.uk.
Case Studies: Monmouthshire County Council host Leadership Academy Conference – Monlife / Sport & Leisure Apprenticeship – https://youtu.be/j-QAqdnm5z8?si=4ExqPSF2Vm8A0qEO
Useful Links:
Framework
Embedding early years experiences for lifelong participation.
Project Overview – The Foundations Framework for Wales has been created as a good practice guide for coaches and partners to adapt their practice, for all activities and offers to be child-centred and create safe, enjoyable and developmental physical activity opportunities for children between the ages of 3 -11 years. MonLife Sport Development is committed to supporting children with a positive start in sport for lifelong enjoyment and active lives, focusing on developing skills, confidence, creativity and fun.
Foundations Framework Wales: A Good Practice Guide | Sport Wales
Case study – 🎥 Discover how we’re bringing the Sport Wales Foundations Framework to life in Monmouthshire!
Place
Engagement, support, nurture and enhance opportunities in the community.
Project Overview – Supporting community development, building on existing offers and creating new opportunities to increase participation and ensure all activities are fully inclusive, by supporting and guiding them with potential funding opportunities.
Working closely to support Sport Wales on funding grants to improve their current facilities, participant opportunities and coach/club training and accreditation to ensure the club are being supported throughout their development. Link to funding page, detail is listed below.
Positive Futures is a diversionary project run in Monmouthshire which is partnered with Newport Live and Gwent Police to target and try and reduce anti-social behaviour. As part of this initiative, we try to identify individuals who may be causing ASB or at risk of, and encourage them to engage in sport and physical activity as an alternative offer, with sport being the hook. We primarily offer this project in Caldicot. The team run weekly sessions, every Wednesday night in Caldicot Leisure centre between 6:30pm – 8:30pm and deliver a variety of different sports, including, basketball, football, tennis, rugby and more.
Alongside our offer throughout the week, we also put on half term provisions throughout the year which consist of different activities for young people to engage with. An example of this, is during October half term, we ran a silent disco, as part of an alternative opportunity to engage in.
The details is:
The BAWF is for community clubs to apply for funding and access grants from £300 up to £50,000 and can be accessed by clubs who are not-for-profit, based in Wales and have not started their project yet.
The BAWF application windows for 2026 are as follows:
- Window 1: Opens 2nd of April 2026 and will close 4th of June 2026.
- Window 2: Opens 8th of July 2026 and will close 16th of September 2026.
- Window 3: Opens 4th of November 2026 and will close 13th of January 2027.
All funding windows open at 9am and will close at 4pm on the allocated dates. For more information, please click on the link:
Alternatively, clubs can also access the Energy Saving Grant and apply for up to £25,000 to improve club house facilities, changing rooms and reduce running costs. Access to this funding includes support with solar panels/storage batteries/insulation/lighting/better heating systems and sustainable water systems. Applications for this open Thursday 21st of May 2026 (10am) and close Wednesday 1st of July 2026 (3pm).
EDI
Provide well being and activities for all!
Project overview – Focusing on removing barriers and creating welcoming environments, designing inclusive programmes for disabilities, ethnically diverse communities, women and girls. Working closely with partners, communities, and participants to ensure our activities are accessible.
Useful link: Official Website of Disability Sport Wales
Health and wellbeing
Providing a diverse range of experiences to promote healthy life choices.
Active 60 Programme
Project overview – The Active 60+ Scheme is an 8-week social prescribing programme, funded through Sport Wales 60+ Active Leisure Scheme. 60 plus ALS is designed to increase the provision of Physical Activity and Wellbeing for people aged 60 and over. This is aimed for the demographic in Monmouthshire, that would like to improve health, wellbeing and increase social participation in the community. The activities linked to this scheme are as follows;
Tai Chi, Pilates, Yoga, Aqua, Swimming (at select times). Fit4Life / Easy line ClassesFit4life Table Tennis (Monmouth Leisure Centre.). Fitness Suite – including a tailored Programme and 1:1 Support with the MonLife Member Journey.Fit4Life parkrun link to– Rogiet Country Park, Chippenham fields, Severn bridge and Llanfoist Crossing.
Useful link: Active 60+ – Monlife
This post is also available in: