InFocus 2024

www.sportingmarvels.com

OUR MARVELS - HERE FOR
Welcome to In Focus 2024...
It's hard to believe, but Sporting Marvels is just
about to see the curtain fall on its 21 st year supporting
the schools of the Rhondda Valleys!!
We have a very different look to when we first
started! The South Africans, Americans and Africans
who first donned the jersey, have been
succeeded, over a decade ago now, by Rhondda-born
Marvels! In the early days, Sporting
Marvels relied heavily on accents, charisma
and 'buzz' with regards to our partnership with
schools. It was great for a season, and without
that time in our history, today’s team wouldn’t
and couldn't have come through the system as
it were. But charisma alone has its end, and in
2009/10 it was evident that we needed a new day.
We had to be more professional, and the service
we provided to schools had to be more than just
positive role models... it had to be of significant
educational and health and wellbeing value!!
Though it was tough at times, we took the necessary
steps to make it happen, investing in all aspects
of our operation, birthing 'a new' Sporting
Marvels that today, sees nearly 30 Year 6 primary
school classes participate in our Mighty Marvels
Programme! Our events are 10 times bigger
than pre-2010, and our All-Star Leadership Programme
in our partner secondary schools, is
the strongest and biggest it’s ever been.
At the heart of our successful recent history,
and certainly the fight we had coming back from
Covid, is our dynamic young team of Marvels! All
Rhondda born, bred, and educated, they care so
much for the kids they teach, and are motivated
to give them their all. Headteacher feedback is
excellent across the board; feedback from our
Mighty Marvels and All-Stars is better than ever;
and increasingly, we’re seeing more and more
parents convey their appreciation for the role
we’re playing in their children’s lives! And, even
though - as a relatively small charity - we’re not
publicly funded and are hugely reliant on generous
people to keep us going via our donation
portals on our website and through Facebook…
Sporting Marvels punches
way above its weight!
Enjoy the magazine!!
Every year, I love to start off the opening article of In Focus with a quote, so
I can’t break tradition now, can I?! "It’s amazing what you can accomplish
in life, if you don’t care who gets the credit!" Between Sporting Marvels,
Rhondda Netball and everything else I’m involved in, I’ve been blessed to
see these words come to life in so many different instances over the course
of my adulthood. And, the end of each academic year in Sporting Marvels
always gives me an opportunity to see them manifest once again, when we
reflect on all that’s been achieved in the preceding twelve months. From the
Mighty Marvels Programme, our mega-events, finance, personal development,
university degrees, all the way to our All-Star Leadership Programme,
the 'power of team' is everywhere in a mission like Sporting Marvels!!
Right at the heart of this team effort, are our Marvels, and I’m always thrilled
to see their passion, enthusiasm, and humility. While no-one has sacrificed
more than Phil when it comes to Sporting Marvels, we can never forget the
countless people who have played a part in our 21-year journey. The Marvels
deserve special praise because role-modelling in a place like Rhondda, at the
Rebecca is Olivia's Mum
intensity the Marvels do year-onyear,
is no mean feat!! Their commitment
to the cause, and their
heart for the kids, are qualities
that epitomise why we do what
we do. They are passion-filled,
driven, and focused on positively
impacting as many of Rhondda’s
young people as possible. The
unique way the Marvels engage
with the children, not just from a teacher-pupil perspective, but on a friendship
level too, is the reason I believe, so many children in the Rhondda love
Sporting Marvels. Furthermore, their ongoing willingness to 'go the extra
mile' is what has allowed each of them to become an integral part
of the team, and it's what has made this current group stand out
from the many teams of the past. This 'extra mile mentality' is
2
Philip R. Davies, LLB
Founder & Chairman
Sporting Marvels
Phil pictured with Doug#1, Doug#2, and their
pals at the 2023 Mighty Marvels Graduation

TODAY'S GENERATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE!
so important, because there are now just under 870 children
participating in our Mighty Marvels Programme with us working
with around 85% of Rhondda’s (excluding the Tonyrefail cluster)
Year 6/Top classes each week, and our timetable is as packed
as 'packed' gets!! Beyond this, the Marvels work with a further
250+ young people that are with us virtually on a daily basis
through our three All-Star Leadership Programmes, at Ysgol
Nantgwyn, Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhondda, and Porth Community
School. They’re all such selfless and brilliant people, yet somehow,
they’re always quick at the draw when it comes to them
expressing their gratitude towards people like myself, Phil and
others in the background. It’s another reminder that it's always
'teamwork that makes the dream work'.
As you can see via the graphic, right, in appreciation for all that
the Marvels do throughout Rhondda, and in wanting the
best for every one of them, we’ve worked hard in recent
years to upskill and equip all of them with experience and
qualifications that will enhance their lives, both now and in
the future. It thrills me that a large cohort of today’s Marvels
are not only qualified Level 4 HLTAs which schools
across Wales are crying out for, they’re also full-time
earners undertaking part-time degrees that will leave
them with little or zero debt when they graduate! For
context, the average student debt in Wales is now
well over £35,000 after a 3-year degree, at a time
when the Bank of England base interest rate is over
5%. They deserve it for all the hard work they put in
through Sporting Marvels and the other charities
and sports teams/initiatives they support.
Incredibly, all of the Marvels
in today's team, were once
10/11-year-old Mighty Marvels
kids being taught by the
Marvels of yesteryear! Yet
here they are 8/9/10/11
years later, teaching and
QUALIFICATIONS
Year 1:
DBS Check
First Aid at Work
Safeguarding Children & Young
People Level 2
Education Workforce Council Membership
Level 3 in Teaching & Learning (TA)
UKCC Level 1 Sports Coaching
Year 2 or Year 3 (depending on age)
OE Mental Health Children & Adolescents
UKCC Level 2 Sports Coaching
Level 4 Education & Training (HLTA)
Optional:
Level 2/3 Instructing Exercise & Fitness
Level 2/3 Fitness Instructing
Level 3 Personal Training
Level 3 Children’s Care Learning & Development
Level 1 Netball Umpiring
Level 3 Health & Social Care (Children &
Young People)
BA (Hons) Education Studies (Primary)
BSC (Hons) Psychology
BA (Hons) Childhood & Youth Studies
LLB (Hons) Law
influencing today’s generation of young people
in Rhondda. They could have gone and done
other things, but instead, they’ve committed
themselves to the cause of putting a positive
Christian role model in front of children in
Rhondda for a season of their lives, in many
cases, a long season!
They're all products of what
Sporting Marvels is doing in the
Rhondda, and it’s a real honour
to see their special brand of
heart and passion positively
impacting so many lives!!
Lawrie R. Davies, LLB
Managing Director
Sporting Marvels
3

AFRICA
Mali
Prosser
Krystal
Nuggs
Taylar
Garland
4

Liam
Kaisha
Connah
2024
Smithy
Millie
Lauren
Liss
5

AFRICA 2024
by Lauren
I had my first life-changing visit to Tanzania
12 years ago, in 2012, when some
of the guys on this year’s trip had only
just started infants school!!
Our All-Star Africa experience is a
'once in a lifetime' opportunity, so you
can imagine then, how much the loss
of so much momentum with our Africa
trips, caused by the Covid disruptions,
resulting in the enforced cancellation
of a 25+ person 2021 trip and a
20+ person 2022/23 trip… hurt us; I
mean, REALLY HURT US!!
But what else can you do when
global events stop you in your
tracks, other than plough on and
keep fighting, trying the best you
can to restore and regain what
was stolen from us?
Well, that’s exactly what we did
with Africa 2024! For us, it was a
new start-point, the beginning of
a journey to rebuild one of our key
relationship opportunities we
have for our All-Star Leaders.
It really is a unique opportunity,
and 'Africa' touches
hearts at a deeper level,
far beyond even the most
well-spoken words. Africa
2024 was a bit different,
due to the previous trip cancellations
due to Covid etc,
some Marvels hadn’t got to experience
Africa while they were All-Stars.
And so, it was extra special to see
Krystal and Liam (who I taught when they
were both just 10 years old) step off the
plane and into Tanzania for the first time!
Still, for everyone, the trip was a
life-changer, and made a huge impact
both on us who went and on those we
touched! In fact, the structure and platform
that Heart for Africa has given us
over the last 6 or 7 years, means that we
were able to show love to more orphans
than ever before, giving away more than
twice as much in finance and/or sustainable
gifts as we did in 2019!!
To quote Winston Churchill, "We make
a living by what we get. We make a life
by what we give"... and if you look at the
photos, you’ll get a small glimpse of the
impact we were able to have!!
The pre-trip fundraising appeal was probably
the most successful appeal we’ve
ever done in Rhondda, with more schools
and parents getting on board than ever
before, allowing us to give away over
£3,500!! It enabled us to donate goats,
bags of maize, cockerels, hens, and
other key purchases, like never before.
As you can see from the photos, Africa
2024 wasn’t just heart-hitting, it was also
a lot of fun for everyone involved!! The
hotel had a great pool for relaxing in, the
Marvels & All-Stars ran a sports day for
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2 primary schools in Arusha - Shalom
Primary and Joshua Primary - and we
even got to see elephants, baboons,
lions, zebras, and a whole host of other
wildlife during our safari to beautiful
Lake Manyara!!
Wanting a 'second opinion' on the success
of Africa 2024, I turned to Smithy...
He started with an emphatic: "It was IN-
CREDIBLE!" before adding, "Having so
many of the Marvels on this trip that haven’t
been before was amazing. And, on
every trip we go on, we seem to be able
to bless the people of Tanzania
more thanks to the work of Heart
For Africa. There were some
teary moments, it’s not every
day that these guys would
get to experience something
like this, and seeing the
levels of gratitude and appreciation
from every
orphanage and school
was really emotional at
times. But once again, one of my
favourite things about this trip was
the awesome parent and community
feedback!! It can be quite a daunting
thing for parents letting their children
go to a country like Tanzania for 11 days
without them, but just take a look at some
of the feedback and you’ll be able to get a
flavour of the wider support we had!"
We're already looking ahead with excitement
for the next trip! What Marvels will
be attending? What All-Stars will
come? Who will we meet? Who
can we impact? How can we
help? Are all questions were
already thinking about. Africa
2024 certainly got the ball
rolling towards an incredible
trip come 2026!!!
You can view our awesome video
by visiting YouTube, and typing
Sporting Marvels Africa 2024
into their search bar...
7

INCREDIBLE FEEDBACK FROM 0UR
I love Sporting
Marvels because...
I’ve been in Sporting Marvels weekly meetings since 2010
and every single meeting has started with the team being
extremely grateful for everything good that’s happened inside
of Sporting Marvels - having an attitude of gratitude
really has been foundational for us!
At the end of every academic year after a full year
in the Mighty Marvels Programme the children take
part in our "attitude of gratitude" lesson. A small
part of the lesson gives the children the opportunity
to let Phil our Founder & Chairman know - by writing
him a letter - what Sporting Marvels means
to them and why they love it! This year, Phil had
nearly 900 letters - yes, you read that right! - and
honestly, he reads every single one!!
The feedback affects Phil more than most, because
when it comes to Sporting Marvels, nobody's done
more and got less than Phil! He’s one of the most successful
marketing & commercial men in the history of Welsh
professional sport and he could have pursued other things
instead of doing Sporting Marvels for nothing. But his heart
sums up the heart of Sporting Marvels and whenever he’s
asked "why do you do it?" he’s quick to respond with Winston
Churchill’s famous words that are now etched into the
core values of Sporting Marvels... "You make a living by
what you get, but you make a life by what you give!"
Anyway, to give you a flavour, here's a tiny selection (sorry
we can’t include more!) of excerpts from the 2024 letters,
with every one starting "I love Sporting Marvels because..."
"...the Marvels show us how to face our fears. I used to fear
spiders, clowns, and sharks, but after the lesson about fear, I’m
not scared of them anymore". Harley, Bodringallt
"...the Marvels really changed things for me and helped me
be kind, positive and be myself. I think they’re life-changers
who are wonderful, amazing, kind, fantastic, awesome, smart,
beautiful, and caring. They’ve changed my personality and loveness
and I am so, so grateful! Without them, I wouldn’t feel
like I belong in our school and I wouldn’t feel loved or even feel
like kindness is even real to me". Milly, Ynyshir
"...it’s given me confidence I didn’t have before and
helped make me more energetic. I used to be so lazy
before, but not now". Chad, Ysgol Nantgwyn
"...Sporting Marvels and Rhondda Netball are
the two best things in Rhondda! Phil invented
one, and his son invented the other. That's
pretty special and super inspiring!! Ava, Alaw
"...SM is so massively amazing! I haven’t been
to any events because my family has been struggling with
money lately. So it’s been hard for me, and my family struggle
to eat sometimes. SM helps me to forget all that and makes me
smile even if inside, I still worry. My favourite memory was Year
5 Adventure Day. That was free. We went up the mountains
and ate lunch up there. I miss them times". Name withheld
"…they’ve made me way more positive, more confident, and
happier. I love it when we write in our Journals and learn new
stuff about Jesus and the disciples". Darcie Mae, Pontygwaith
"…nothing has ever made me think like SM makes me think! It’s
helped me find out what’s really important!" Lucy, Darran Park
"…SM is the best part of school by far! The Marvels are super
fun, really cool, and not the boring adults that I expected them
to be. I used to live in Nigeria and joined the class in the middle
of the school year. The Marvels included me from the very first
day, and made me feel like I belonged!" Vanessa, Porth
8
I love Sporting
Marvels because...
"…they teach us in a way that is so different to the way we are usually taught.
I love the colourful slideshows. I love the Marvels’ passion,
and I love the way they make me feel so special! "
Noah, Porth Community School

2023/24 MIGHTY MARVELS KIDS!
by CHELSEA
I love Sporting
Marvels because...
"… the Marvels are like a family to me and I love them with all of my heart. Even
though I only came to this school halfway through the year, The Marvels made me
feel as if I was part of the team straightaway. They made me feel soooo welcome!!"
Emily, Parc Primary School
"...SM spreads kindness and respect all over the Rhondda and
helps make it a better place to live!" Lexi Leigh, Pontygwaith
"...they’ve worked their socks off to ensure the happiness of
us Rhondda kids for 22 years!! They are the most inspirational
people any of us have ever seen! I’ve made memories that I
will cherish until the day I die!" Alexia-Rose, Cwmclydach
"...SM is like one big happy family where everyone looks after
each other and that together, life is better!" Indie, Gelli
"...their commitment to us Mighty Marvels kids makes every
one of the Marvels a living legend!" Eleri, YGG Llyn y Forwyn
"...it’s unique, funny, fantastic, and fabulous! The Marvels are
the best teachers I've ever seen; they fill me with confidence,
inside and out!" Olivia, Ysgol Nantgwyn
"...the Marvels teach us lessons like nobody else does. The
lesson where Saul became Paul was just amazing and
I think about it all the time". Jessica, Penrhys
"…I really love the Marvels! They make me feel exhilerated
and they're always so positive and energetic! SM
is important at school and at home!" Bonnie, Maerdy
"...SM is so amazing! I haven’t been to any events because
my family has been struggling with money lately.
So it’s been hard for me, and my family struggle to eat
sometimes. SM helps me to forget all that and makes
me smile even if inside, I still worry. My favourite
memory was Year 5 Adventure Day. That was
free. We went up the mountains and ate lunch
up there. I miss them times!" Name withheld
"...I’m much stronger emotionally than I used
to be because the Marvels have made me a
better person, more confident and now, I never
give in!" Medi, YGG Llyn y Forwyn
"...it’s like one big family where everyone looks after
each other and that, together, life is better". Indie, Gelli
"...it brings so much joy to school. I can’t explain it, but
all my class think the same as I do!" Emily, Ton Pentre
"...doing SM has been really good for my mental health and
made me feel so much happier. SM has taught me to be a better
friend and a good son and brother". Harley, YGG Bronllwyn
"...they encourage me to get better at all sorts of things. They
have done so much for me and my class!" Noor, Cymmer
"...the Marvels teach us about friendship and about how to
make new friends and keep them. I have loads more friends
than I used to and I am so thankful!" Sadie, YGG Llwyncelyn
"...I’ve learned so much through all the Bible stories and I feel
that doing SM has had a big effect on me, making me more
resilient, respectful and reliable than ever". Emmie, Maerdy
"...I’ve been through quite a lot this year and the Marvels have
lifted and inspired me. They've been so brilliant with me that I
want to be a Marvel when I’m older now". Madison, Alaw
"...everyone says that my behaviour has got so much
better and that I am more respectful. I know that’s because
of doing the SM lessons!" Lilly-Anne, Treorchy
"...the Marvels make me feel calm and safe!" Kodi, Porth
"...the Marvels are so caring and the joy they bring into the
lessons, none of us has ever seen before. Sometimes it’s
so incredible it feels like a dream!" Morgan, Ton Pentre
"...if it wasn’t for the Marvels, I would be lazing
around watching Tik Tok!!" Millie, Darran Park
"...the Marvels are the best role models
in the world!" Noah, Penyrenglyn
"…I used to suffer from terrible
social anxiety around people and
be so frightened! But now, with
the Marvels help, my fear has gone! It honestly
feels like I’ve been freed from a prison where I was
trapped, trying to hide from people. Everything is
so different for me now!!" Name withheld
"…the only thing I don't like about SM is that all of
their brilliant events sell out so fast you can't get
a ticket!!" Ashton, YGG Ynyswen
9

2022/23 SEES GREAT APPRAISALS FROM
It would be true to say that the last couple of years have been
nothing short of amazing for our Mighty Marvels Programme!
We’re now working in more Year 6/Top classes across Rhondda
than ever before, and our Mighty Marvels Health & Wellbeing
Programme has undergone extensive development
so that we can help support our partner primary schools
as schools develop their curriculums in line with the new
Curriculum for Wales directives.
While it would be true to say that Sporting Marvels has had
more ‘talented’ teams than our current group (we once had
two rappers on the team!!) we've never had more of an impact!
It’s probably because “hard work beats talent when talent
doesn’t work hard enough”, but it’s also down to the fact that
no other Sporting Marvels team has ever cared about what
they do, teach, and role model like this one does!
While it's true that all of the programmes and priorities we
now have in place are a product of hard-won experience, it is
this heart for the children that truly sets them apart!
It bodes well for our future then, that the Headteachers at all
our partner schools are thrilled with what they are seeing,
and it’s helped push us to a place that only a few years ago,
was a million miles away. And, while we're the first to admit
that there's still plenty to improve on, mediocrity is not part of
our make-up, and the key driving force each academic year is
the pursuit of excellence right across the board.
We've never featured feedback from so many Headteachers
before, so the limited space means that we're only able to
share a sentence or two from each of their appraisals.
p. davies - ygg llyn y forwyn
"Taylar, Kieran, and Krystal are an integral part of Teulu Llyn y
Forwyn. They have excellent relationships with our staff, and
are absolutely adored by our pupils who without question, develop
and mature greatly under their guidance. They are very
professional, have such high standards, and care so much
about our pupils! They are truly inspirational and can be relied
upon to encourage the children to follow the right path in life!
c. coole - darran park
"The Marvels are outstanding! They display excellent communication
towards all pupils, and their personal and leadership
skills with our children is hugely appreciated - by pupils and staff
alike - as is their energy and enthusiasm which is infectious!!!"
d. williams - parc primary
"Liam and Liss are excellent role models who are able to not
just teach our pupils, but demonstrate through their own lives,
how the children can lead positive and fruitful lives. They have
outstanding relational skills and have helped give our pupils
a much greater understanding of Christianity and its values."
c. flannary-davies - gelli
"The Marvels have great behavioural management skills, and
all lessons are well-paced and challenging. The children have
really grasped the values that they've been taught through
the Mighty Marvels lessons, and we've all noticed how what
they've learned feeds through into their other lessons. The children
love Liam & Taylar... I try not to be offended when they
say Sporting Marvels Day is their favourite day of the week!"
10
L. Morris, Headteacher, Ysgol Nantgwyn
"The Marvels sessions - the highlight of the pupils' week - are well-
planned and superbly resourced, always promoting the right values
and ethos, teaching valuable life skills, boosting confidence,
and enhancing the pupils' sense of well-being!

OUR PRIMARY SCHOOL HEADTEACHERS!!
I. Evans, Headteacher, Ton Pentre
"The children love the Mighty Marvels lessons, and the interaction with the
Marvels makes a huge contribution to their mental, physical, and emotional
well-being! ...At Ton Juniors, we all recognise how amazing you all are!
l. morris - ysgol nantgwyn
"The Marvels sessions - the highlight of the pupils' week - are
well-planned and superbly resourced, always promoting the
right values and ethos, teaching valuable life skills, boosting
confidence, and enhancing the pupils' sense of well-being!
Connah, Kieran, and Krystal are outstanding, and are seen as
members of staff and part of the school team".
s. dessent - llwynypia
"The Marvels have a very positive effect on our pupils, helping
make them more confident as individuals, and bringing them
much closer together as a class. The exciting presentation and
content, ensures every pupil is fully engaged and catered for!
n. gould - ygg bronllwyn
"The Marvels build such wonderfully positive relationships with
the pupils (and the staff and parents too) who absolutely love it
when the Marvels attend our concerts and proms. They are an
important part of theYGG Bronllwyn team. Diolch yn fawr!"
l. owens - cwmclydach
"All the Marvels are outstandingly positive role models to our
pupils, but this year it's been especially wonderful having
Logan, a past pupil of ours, return as a role model in this way.
You are all so dedicated and inspiring. It really is a pleasure
working with you all and our pupils benefit greatly!!"
a. williams - penrhys
"Taylar and Liam are quality role models who possess excellent
relational skills! Our pupils love them and Thursday is obviously
their favourite day! The relevant and purposeful lesson content
has given our pupils extra opportunity and encouragement
to build the confidence they'll need for secondary school!
a. james - pontrhondda
"The ‘End of Year’ video is loved by pupils, parents and staff,
with everyone looking forward to watching it all together. The
Marvels are simply marvellous, and always go above and beyond!
A huge thank you to all at Sporting Marvels!"
m. hutchings - pontygwaith (2022/23)
"The Marvels have fitted seamlessly into 'Team Pontygwaith',
and the relationships they've formed with our pupils (and staff)
has been a joy to see. They make learning so much fun, our
pupils don’t even realise they are learning!! Sporting Marvels
helps our children develop socially, emotionally, and academically,
and words can't convey how much we appreciate you!!"
c. roberts - ygg ynyswen
"The Marvels are very professional and always well-prepared.
They teach important morals and key life lessons in a uniquely
engaging and lively way! The children love them. Diolch!"
i. elliot - cymmer primary
"Our pupils always respond with enthusiasm and motivation,
reflecting the energy the Marvels give off. The lessons promote
strong values, good sportsmanship, teamwork, and leadership
skills. We massively appreciate our Sporting Marvels!!"
i. evans - ton pentre
"We see Connah, Liss and Lucy as a peripatetic part of '#Team-
Ton'. The children love the Mighty Marvels lessons, and the
interaction with the Marvels makes a huge contribution to their
mental, physical, and emotional well-being! Thank you for all
you do for us in terms of the curriculum and indeed, the support
you are to the children and to the staff too! At Ton Juniors, we
all recognise how amazing you all are! Long may it continue!!"
11

12
r. davies - alaw
"The Mighty Marvels lessons are excellent, really help our children
to learn new skills and to develop their positive social
interaction skills. Sporting Marvels is a great asset to Alaw and
we appreciate their contribution to school life".
e. anstee - treorchy
"The frequent interaction with the Marvels really benefits our
pupils - I think they’ve made friends for life! The lessons, which
are always innovative and creative, encourage the children
to focus on being resilient, caring, team players, and always
have a positive impact on all of our pupils!"
Mr S. Howells, Headteacher, Bodringallt
"I feel truly blessed that our pupils are fortunate enough to
work with the Marvels! Their impact is absolutely HUGE!!"
s. howells - bodringallt
"The Mighty Marvels Programme has helped develop our
children’s social skills and resilience. Our pupils will often refer
to what they have learnt during other activities, and this
is a true sign both of their understanding and the enormous
impact the Marvels have on the children. I feel truly blessed
that our pupils are fortunate enough to work with the Marvels!
Their impact is absolutely HUGE!!"
n. pike - ygg bodringallt
"The Marvels are beyond excellent at building rapport with
the children and are always so positive and enthusiastic.
They help our pupils develop their self-esteem, confidence,
and team skills. We count ourselves as extremely fortunate to
have had so many fantastic Marvels over the years!!"
m. rees - ygg llwyncelyn
"Taylar and Kieran are such a big hit with the children!! It's
because they care so much and are always ready to go the
extra mile! It's why they are such an integral part of our team!
g. pennington - porth
"The Marvels bring real expertise to our PE and RE provision.
Liam, Liss, and Naomi are really excellent! They're outstanding
role models who make learning 'fun' and exciting for the
children, who are always fully engaged!"
p. phillips - ynyshir
"We really couldn’t ask for a better team of Marvels. Liss,
Lucy, and Liam are great role models, full of energy and enthusiasm.
The children can relate to them easily, and they
always make sure that every pupil is fully engaged. It is very
noticeable that school attendance is always at its highest on
a Friday, which just happens to be Sporting Marvels Day!"
PENYRENGLYN
PRIMARY SCHOOL
by CHELSEA
2023/24
Let me start by taking you back to September 2022, where
we added Pontygwaith Primary. Despite me no longer being
a Marvel and being more involved off the field these days, I
was able to play a small part in helping the Mighty Marvels
Health & Wellbeing Programme start add Pontygwaith for
2022/23. Through coaching her two amazing daughters for
5 or 6 years in Rhondda Netball, I'd gotten close to Michelle
Hutchings, who unbeknown to me was completing the National
Professional Qualification for Headteachers (NPQS).
Incredibly, the first week in her first post as a Headteacher,
Michelle was on the phone to me finding out where Sporting
Marvels could fit their Year 6 class in!
Well, as events would have it, just one year later, at the start
of 2023/24, she became the Headteacher at Penyrenglyn
Primary and yes... you guessed it... she was straight on the
phone to me asking "How can I get Sporting Marvels for my
new school... please!!?"
Because she’s so appreciative of who we are, what we do,
and the positive impact we have on children like her own,
the Marvels immediately jumped on board the 'Penyrenglyn
Express', chivvying Lawrie, Smithy, and Lauren for Michelle
to get her wish as soon as the opportunity arose!!
It's an amazing story and one that illustrates how crazy the
journey to us reaching so many schools has been. Over the
last decade, we have significantly expanded our reach, covering
nearly 30 "top classes" through our Mighty Marvels
Health & Wellbeing Programme, with just under 870 children
involved throughout 2023/24.
When I called Michelle for a quote, she said, in typically
effervescent fashion: "It’s been amazing Chels!! Liss and
Kieran are wonderful role models! They’re already like celebrities
around the school. You know how much I value
the impact you all make on young people throughout the
Rhondda because I know what a positive influence you’ve
had on my own children. Our pupils are going to benefit
immensely from this year’s lessons and activities. Diolch yn
fawr!"
What a great report!! No doubt this will give Smithy, Lauren
and the team a great platform for taking our primary
schools work forward over the next few years!
A lot still needs to happen to grow more of course, but my
goodness… a lot has happened to bring us this far, so it's
not exactly unknown territory to us!!

OVERLEAF...
All-Star Leaders, Morfa Bay, November 2024
13

With the establishment of an All-Star Leadership
Programme at Porth Community School
for 2022/23, it’s been an exciting two years for
our 11-18 work. In just a short period of time,
we’ve gone from working with 160 All-Stars, to
well over 220 across the three Rhondda schools that Sporting
Marvels has a full-time presence in!
Such growth hasn’t been easy to grapple with, especially on
the back of Covid which created a challenging context for our
Marvels to work through, with the culture of secondary school
life, sport, and behaviour, potentially changed forever! And
that's to say nothing about the practical challenges we’ve had
to fave, such as Porth Community School’s Barn renovation
(Feb - Jul 2024) and the drastic changes in the Rhondda Sixth
Form offerings over the last few years, which has helped
propagate a big shift in Year 11 pupil’s attitudes towards staying
on and studying for A Level. It's easy to forget that only a
few years ago, nearly 75% of Year 11 pupils would choose to
undertake A Levels in respect of their first post-16 step!
YSGOL GYFYUN CWM RHONDDA
"Lauren's contribution to school life, the PE
department and the netball program has been
nothing short of transformative."
C. SPANSWICK
Headteacher, Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhondda
However, there's no triumph without struggle, and we’re
thrilled that the Marvels who represent us on a full-time basis
in Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhondda, Ysgol Nantgwyn, and Porth
Community School, are always working hard to adapt and
evolve in an everchanging world! All three of them, pictured
below, have become integral parts of each school’s PE/Health
& Wellbeing Departments, and school staff and leadership
can’t speak too highly of them as individuals who have such
a positive impact on so many young people.
As well as focusing on the pupils in our All-Star Leadership
Programmes, they all play an active role in overseeing netball
and football provision in each school. It’s all evidence of the
Sporting Marvels heart at work within them, and we’re always
delighted when they receive the kind of recognition they do for
their selfless work, week in week out. Nowhere is this more evident
than at 'birthday time', where it’s not uncommon to see
50+ Instagram and Facebook posts - and a couple of dozen
heartfelt private messages or cards - from young people and
their parents showing their appreciation at
an opportune moment!
Hopefully, the best is still to
come for our 11-18 work, and
at Porth Community School at
least, still in its very early days,
we know that’s the case!
But knowing Smithy
& Lauren like we do,
they’re not ones for
standing still either!!
14
"Lauren has consistently demonstrated
exceptional character and professionalism
in her Sporting Marvels' role at YGCR.
She's a person of integrity who always approaches
her work with a positive attitude
and dedication. Our staff are always impressed
by everything she puts her hand
to, and she consistently goes above and beyond for our pupils
and our staff in our PE faculty.
Pupils have had more than their fair share of challenges
since Covid, and having someone like Lauren alongside
them during these last few years I know has helped so many
of them. It speaks to her reliability, hardworking nature and
enthusiam that Sporting Marvels' work at the school has
gone from strength to strength, with the All-Star Leadership
Programme flourishing.
As well as promoting regular
physical activity and superb
key skills and life lessons, the
All-Star Leadership Programme
bring pupils together and helps
them understand the importance
of teamwork and collaboration.
It helps them as individuals to
enhance their social skills, discipline
and time management and
all the Marvels do a fantastic job
with YGCR's All-Stars.
Yes, Sporting Marvels' work
through Lauren has been such
asset to our school, and the wider
impact extends far beyond
the netball court and school life,
literally reaching into the lives of
our learners at YGCR."

YSGOL NANTGWYN
"Since becoming Headteacher, I can’t
speak highly enough of our partnership
with Sporting Marvels. Ian is an absolute
star, and nothing ever seems
to be too much trouble for him and his
young team of Marvels. His professionalism is
of the highest order, and he enjoys excellent rapport with
staff and pupils alike. It’s very clear he loves what he does
and the pupils he serves are all the better for having him in
play such an active role in the Ysgol Nantgwyn community.
There’s been a lot of change at Ysgol Nantgwyn since the
school was established as a 3-16,
and I’ve personally been thrilled
with the efforts Sporting Marvels
have made to adapt around all our
priorities and objectives. We’re
pleased to have a special relationship
where the charity’s impact
not only has a positive effective
on our Upper School, but on our
Lower School too.
In respect of Ian’s efforts here
through the All-Star Leadership
Programme, it’s abundantly clear
how excited pupils are to be involved,
and there is always a real
sense of anticipation around the
school when it comes to each
year’s All-Star selections in Year
"Lauren's contribution to school life, the PE
department and the netball program has been
superb and nothing short of transformative."
L. MORRIS
Headteacher, Ysgol Nantgwyn
PORTH COMMUNITY SCHOOL
"Naomi’s a great motivator...She really is an
outstanding role model to our pupils, helping
raise aspirations, ambition and self-esteem."
N. ISAACS
Head of Health & Wellbeing, Porth Community School
"We’ve been absolutely thrilled with the
addition of Sporting Marvels to Porth
Community School’s Heath & Wellbeing
provision! Naomi has fitted in
so well since she joined us at the start
of 2022/23, and I honestly don’t know
where we’d be without her now. Sporting
Marvels has a longstanding history
in Rhondda and I’m so happy that our
pupils are now having the same opportunities as pupils at
Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhondda & Ysgol Nantgwyn. I know from
the reports I’ve had that Naomi is already playing a vital role
in helping to raise aspirations, ambition, and self-esteem,
especially with our female pupils.
During the last two years which have been filled with change,
Sporting Marvels’ commitment and contribution has been
quite outstanding, and all the PE staff have really appreciated
having someone with Naomi’s skills and qualifications
supporting our efforts! She
seems to anticipate things way
ahead of time and sometimes, it
even feels like she can read my
mind! As a highly qualified and
experienced netball coach who
also happens to be Porth Netball
Club’s Head Coach, there’s
also been significant benefits for
us when it comes to our netball
provision. More of our female
pupils than ever are excelling in
the sport, and it’s brilliant to see
how Sporting Marvels has used
Naomi’s skills to establish the
All-Star Leadership Programme
at our school. Here’s to a great
2024/25!"
7. The programme gives pupils an identity, purpose, focus,
and it’s superb when it comes to building a sense of family
and belonging. It also provides pupils with the kind of confidence
and skills we want here at Ysgol Nantgwyn.
Sporting Marvels standing within the Ysgol Nantgwyn community,
especially with pupils and parents, is to be commended.
It speaks to the level of care and compassion they
have for our pupils and their efforts to be inclusive. It’s really
no surprise that so many young people from across Rhondda
descend on the school in holiday time for Sporting
Marvels events. A big thank you from all of us at Ysgol
Nantgwyn for all that you do!"
15

470 ATTEND OUR TWO HUGE END OF 2022/23
The Mighty Marvels Graduation and All-Star Presentations
are both glitzy, climactic affairs, where the Marvels honour
the 1100+ young people we work most closely with every
week of the year through our Mighty Marvels Programme
and All-Star Leadership Programme. It’s a busy Summer,
but in true Marvel style as always and not being a team
willing to ‘take their foot off the gas’ they knew they had to
end the year on a high and do an excellent job. The Marvels’
attitude towards both nights is aimed at searing Sporting
Marvels on the hearts of those we work with and publicly
appreciating their efforts for the awesome year!
The Graduation is a night that really shows off the true heart
of Sporting Marvels, arguably more than any other event
we do. It’s incredible that not one of the children that attended
were even born when we first started Sporting Marvels
all the way back in 2002. Much has changed since then,
but what’s clear to see each year is the genuine two-way
display of admiration and respect, between the Marvels
and kids! For many children the Graduation is the highliht
of their year, as they see their Marvels let their hair down,
one last time! And for some children destined to become
All-Stars in September, this is just the end of Year 1 in what
could be an 8-year journey with Sporting Marvels!
Then you have the All-Star Presentation, which has the
unique mix of so many different ages coming together, able
somehow, without any problems whatsoever, to celebrate a
family feeling and culture that we'll never take for granted.
"This year's All-Star event was incredible," beamed Team
Leader Lauren. "The All-Stars are amazing, and the quality
is visibly increasing year-on-year, even though we just seem
so big now in terms of the overall number of All-Stars! The
addition of Porth Community School All-Stars means this
was our biggest-ever All-Star Presentation! I absolutely love
seeing all the different ages mix in together, all loving being
a part of Sporting Marvels! Our photos can only give you a
flavour of the real thing but suffice it to say, there's never
been a more exciting time for the All-Star Programme.This
year’s All-Star Presentation really was the icing on the cake
for our work at Ysgol Nantgwyn, Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhondda
& Porth Community School."
It might sound a bit 'crazy' but the 2023/24 Mighty Marvels
Graduation and All-Star presentation have just taken place!!
We'll be sure to share the winners and a big selection of
photographs in next years InFocus!!
16

CELEBRATIONS!!
17

THE MARVELS HAVE A BLAST WITH OUR
When last year’s All-Star Christmas Party drew to a
close, the team were on a dizzy, record-breaking high,
after over 80% of the All-Star Programme attended!!
A year on, they were experiencing that very same record-breaking
feeling - as a whopping 260 young people
filled Tonypandy’s NUM Workingmen’s Club!
The All-Star team surpassed expectations this year,
so much so that just one week before the event they
made the risky call to switch the All-Star Christmas
Fancy Dress Party to a bigger venue so that even
more All-Stars were able to attend than previous!!
"It was a pretty big risk!" Naomi told InFocus. "We
always hoped that lots of our kids would want to
come, but working with teenagers you never really
know how it’s going to be received! Having All-Stars
between 11-18 years old all in one room from All-Star
Programmes at three different schools, means lots
of things, potentially, could go wrong – but it really
couldn’t have gone any better. In the end, it completely
topped last year’s party!!"
With the Marvel girls dressed as ‘Disney Villains’ - Taylar
stole the show with her crazy Cruella Deville outfit - and
the boys dressed up as Santa and his helpers, the team
set a high bar! There was, however, a question mark on
who would get the leading role of Santa!? With it being
his first All-Star Party as a Marvel, Nuggs was given the
honour, and though the pressure was on, Nuggs being
Nuggs, he didn’t disappoint and, sweating profusely inside
his costume, didn’t leave the dance floor all night!!
It really was a great night, where the special 'family
feel' of the All-Star Programme was almost tangible!!
The Mighty Marvels Christmas Party was a blast too,
with the 'look-forward-buzz' starting as early
as September in some of the schools!!
"All the Marvels work really hard to encourage
the kids to come to our out-of-school events", said
a smiling Kieran on the night. "It adds a whole new
dimension to the relationship-building process!
The Mighty Marvels Christmas Party is pretty
special and is one of my favourites as I get to see
so many of the awesome kids I teach all together
in the same place, all hyper-excited
and enjoying themselves! It's pretty epic!!"
18

AND
AT 0UR CHRISTMAS PARTIES
19

A COMBINED 800+ FOR OUR RECORD-BREAKING
#HereWeGo!! The first out-of-school event of the
2023/24 school year, held during the October half-term,
was nothing short of spectacular! Pulling off a 2-day
event with over 350 young people, across 4 activity
slots, is no small feat. But with the infectious start-ofthe-year
energy and enthusiasm, the Marvels were in
unstoppable form... and thankfully, so were our new
All-Star Leaders (at what was their first event taking
charge) and our 2023/24 cohort of Mighty Marvels, who
were experiencing their first Sporting Marvels event
brought fresh excitement to the mix.
Event Organiser, Connah, was thrilled with how it all
went… "Ah it was phenomenal," he said. "The first
half term is all about building foundations for the year
ahead, with the Mighty Marvels team still getting to
know the new group of Year 6 pupils, and those of us in
secondary schools spending most of our time identifying
the right Year 7 pupils to join the All-Star Leadership
Programme. As well as this, it’s about establishing routines,
consistency, and setting the standard. The high
bar creates high expectations, and the fact we were
forced to change our events format again because so
many All-Stars wanted to come to Head-2-Head, was
such an awesome problem to have! It meant we were
really able to win the new All-Stars because the buzz
around everything was just crazy!"
After a mega succesful indoor event in October, the
Marvels were really relying on the Weather for their
Sports Days in Easter! Despite one of the days seeing
golf-ball-like hailstones fall from the sky for 15 minutes,
the weather just about held off throughout... and
so a great time was had by all! Senior Marvel, Taylar,
shared her thoughts with InFocus "I've seen a lot
of Sports Days in my time, both as an All-Star and a
Marvel. We've learned never to take these big events
for granted and that preparation is key. We always
have to believe the weather won't make things impossible!
Thankfully, the conditions allowed
us to have two action-packed days,
connecting with hundreds of Mighty
Marvels and All-Stars."
20

SPORTS DAYS AND HEAD-2-HEAD EVENTS !
21

SUPERB SUMMERCAMP BREAKS
"When you invest in people and lift them towards their potential,
they will love you for it." Sporting Marvels is a great
example of the truth of this quote, as it encourages the kids
to dream big and be the best they can be.
The kids respond in their droves and their genuine love
for the Marvels has to be seen to be believed! It's why 268
SummerCamp spaces can sell out in less than a week, seven
months before the event!! SummerCamp 2023 is the biggest
residential in Sporting marvels HISTORY!
When the team arrived at Condover Hall, they were thrust
straight into a hectic activity programme, which included favourites
like kayaking, a high ropes course, abseiling and
tug-of-war. The kids absolutely love it, but so do the Marvels!!
"SummerCamp 2023 was UNREAL!!!" Lauren told InFocus.
"We knew the activities were going to be quality and they
didn’t disappoint, but the truth is that the most important part
of our SummerCamps are our All-Star Leaders. With so
many Campers, they basically become mini-Marvels for the
week! They absolutely bossed it though, and their hearts for
their teams were out there for everyone to see, helping create
that all-important Sporting Marvels family feeling. This
year's theme was based on the Animal Kingdom, and each
day, we focused on different animals and their strengths.
Day 1’s focus was on Sharks and their Mentality; Day 2 was
Lions and their Leadership, and Day 3 was Wolves and their
Commitment to their teams and their families. All the Mighty
Marvels and All-Stars were totally engaged throughout all
our meetings, and you could see that many of them were
able to grasp the key principles that Garland, Liss, and Krystal
were sharing. As for our annual SummerCamp song, this
year’s hit was ‘Sky Full of Stars’ created by our very own
songwriting trio - Taylar, Liss & Krystal! The song helped the
atmosphere in the evening meetings go totally crazy, and
after every meal there was a choir of chanting and singing
as the Campers headed out for their evening activities!"
Yes, SummerCamp 2023 was very special indeed and, as
Day 4 came to a close and the buses arrived back in the
Rhondda to be greeted by hundreds of parents and family
members, all 268 Campers disembarked, totally
exhausted!! While most rushed off to get some
shut-eye, the Marvels came together for one last
time in 2023/24 to share their favourite highlights
over the past 4 days and of course, a tired,
but happy team selfie! SummerCamp 2023… a
residential that built us an even greater platform
for influence for the 2023/24 school year!!
22

ALL THE RECORDS!!
23

CHRISTIAAN WELMAN
from South Africa, the
first Marvel, pictured in
Tonypandy Community
School, Nov 2003
LOTAN
Malawi
UGO
Nigeria
ELROY
South Africa
ERIC
USA
DANIELLE
South Africa
CHRISTIAAN
South Africa
KATE
USA
THE 2005 TEAM
LAUREN ,
Adventure Day,
May 2006
All-Star
SMITHY
June 2007
All-Star CHELSEA
with Kate Ritta
at Boot Camp
Oct 2006
YEARS
PARTNERING with
RHONDDA SCHOOLS
KRYSTAL & LIAM
Mighty Marvels Graduation
July 2015
CONNAH
Adventure Day
April 2009
All-Star
TAYLAR
May 2012
All-Star KIERAN
on social with
Smithy Feb 2014
April 2000
PHIL & LAWRIE
Newport RFC
NAOMI
Mighty Marvels lesson
December 2006
LISS
Sports Day
Easter NUGGS
2012 & Lauren
Mighty Marvels
Graduation 2017
THE 2023/24 SPORTING MARVELS TEAM