Members of Maesteg Park A.F.C. Mini & Juniors are set to reap the benefits of a cash investment into the health of the region as it was today announced that the Sports Council for Wales’ Community Chest Scheme is ploughing £820.00 into Coaching Development.

Community Chest, which is celebrating its 10^th anniversary this year, is a National Lottery grant managed by the Sports Council for Wales and supported locally by Bridgend County Borough Council. It is designed to encourage more people to become more physically active, more often.

Since its inception in1999, communities across the length and breadth of Wales have been investing heavily in sports and physical activity projects.

The Sports Council for Wales has recently raised the level of grant available. Organisations keen to develop sport and physical activity in Wales can receive up to £1000.00 for a qualifying project over a 12 month period, and Maesteg Park A.F.C. Mini & Juniors Coaching Development of Senior and Junior Leaders Awards is one of the latest to benefit.

And by harnessing the pulling power that sports clubs in particular possess within the local community, the Sports Council for Wales is now providing them with extra ammunition by making them eligible for two Community Chest awards in any financial year.

The benefit of this grant will develop the Mini & Junior sections within Maesteg Park A.F.C. by funding the training of seniors with FAW leaders, Goalkeepers & First Aid Awards, also the club aims to assist the junior players in achieving their Junior Leaders Awards.

This in turn will offer more coaches in order to expand the number of age groups and increase the number of children taking part in football within the Maesteg Community.

Lee Flay, Chairman of the Mini & Juniors / Junior Leader Mentor, said:

"Maesteg Park Minis & Juniors wish to express their sincere gratitude to the Sports Council of Wales for the investment into coaching development. We have introduced three new age groups this season, that’s an additional forty five players on top of our existing seventy playing at various levels."

"The importance of good coaches to the development of young players cannot be underestimated. We aim to develop new and existing coaches through the coach education programme to enhance their skills and knowledge in coaching. Along with adult coaching, we currently have four of our under 14 players participating in the Young Leaders Award. The benefits are to encourage responsibility, confidence and self esteem."

Sports clubs are a vital part of the fabric of community life. They, and the people behind the scenes, have the opportunity to source and mould young talent into the stars of the future and instil the core values of hard work, belief and – above all – enjoyment of the sport.

Community Chest funding is helping to create and support new sporting opportunities for young people all across Wales. Funding can be used to train coaches and administrators, small-scale equipment grants for junior development, the establishment of competitive structures for juniors within the community, junior club start-up costs and support for sporting events and festivals.

Chair of the Sports Council for Wales, Philip Carling said:

"Community Chest has been and continues to be a huge success and is very popular throughout Wales. The increase in funding and the greater scope of the scheme will increase its effectiveness.

"The simplest ideas often deliver the biggest impact. Panels based in each of the 22 local authorities in Wales hold the purse strings and have delegated authority to award grants to worthwhile projects. We want to hear of bright ideas and projects that will get more people active more often."