The ambassadors are made up of a dedicated team of volunteers who make such an impact in ensuring all community activities are presented to children in the region throughout the year and this kit is a big thank you for their tremendous support to the community department at the Newport Gwent Dragons.
The recent year saw the opening of the match day Family Zone which, in turn, meant an increased workload for the community but the ambassadors came to the rescue and were up to the task which was testament to the bond that exists between all members of the team.
Within the fam zone, the ambassadorial team are tasked with the management of half of the structure, and under the supervision of Community Manager Mr. Mike Sage, the team were able to run activities including golf, cricket, and numerous other activities to enhance match day participation for the young supporters.
In addition to the running of the family zone, the ambassadors also work alongside development officer Janice Chappell to ensure that the guard of honour and mascot enjoy their day with the Newport Gwent Dragons.
Firstly, they are tasked with the organisation of guaranteeing that all participants are ready and obedient in preparation for the arrival of two of the Dragons players, then ensuring a smooth running of allowing the children to have photographs and autographs from the chosen representatives of the region. Then, it is straight out onto the south stand where the children watch the warm up of the Dragons so that they can take some skills back to their respective clubs and aid their own development as future rugby players.
Finally, they organise the children into two equal groups and lead them out onto the field in order to form the guard of honour. The players are constantly reporting back about the lift they get when they hear the children shouting their support of the team and this could not be done without the community ambassadors, showing how much of an impact they have on the players as-well as enhancing the experience for the young boys and girls who form the guard of honour.
To complement their expertise on a match day, some of the ambassadors also help out throughout the school holidays to aid the community department in the successful delivery of both one and three day skills camps to children aged between eight and fourteen. Based for the most part behind the scenes, in administration and smooth operating of the camps, the ambassadors allow for a better appreciation of the camps from the children who can spend more time with Mike and Janice on the field. The ambassadors will also, if required, help in demonstrations and even partake in the activities alongside the children to make sure that the participants enjoy every aspect of the skills camps.
Community Manager Mike Sage said: “The community ambassadors have and continue to add real value to our community department and have helped enormously in improving our community offerings, making a very positive impact. I would like to thank our ambassadors for their loyal support, your support means such a lot to us at the Dragons. The great work and effort has also been noticed by our community partners Melin Homes who were quick to support our volunteers and sponsor them kit, so that they look professional as they deliver to professional standards. A massive thanks to Melin for acknowledging our ambassadors’ important role in community engagement."
It is clear that without the hard work and dedication of the community ambassadors that the running of the community activities on match days and during the season would be extremely more difficult and only goes to highlight their paramount importance to Newport Gwent Dragons. The community are proud to be expertly supported from our volunteers who work tirelessly free of charge throughout the season and to provide them with kit seemed a fitting way to say a big thank you for their continued support to the region who are grateful for their invaluable expertise.
Melin Homes Communities Officer, Alan Hughes, recognises the success of the Community Sporting Partnership with Newport Gwent Dragons which has enabled so many young people learn new skills, opportunities to increase their confidence and the chance to be in the same company as professional sportsmen and women influencing their young lives.
Finally, thank you to Melin Homes for sponsoring the kit as-well, adding to their current sponsorships with the Dragons as without the backing of sponsors like Melin Homes, the Newport Gwent Dragons would not be able to pay tribute to the fantastic efforts of the community ambassadors whose main aim is to provide a better experience for everyone throughout the year.
