College Appoints Sport Maker

Shropshire, United Kingdom, January 30, 2013 --(PR.com)-- Benji Evans’ main role will be to increase sports and physical activity across the Walford and Oswestry campuses, as well as creating opportunities for the local community. This will be achieved through creating a suitable programme of activities, competitions and events, which will help meet the needs of all students, staff and local community members.

It is the College’s vision to encourage people that don’t normally participate in sport to get involved and to help break down barriers and widen access. Benji will recruit, train and retain approximately 100 students and community members to become Sport Makers, who will help lead and support activities. Coach education and relevant training will be available for all Sport Makers and full support will be provided throughout the programme.

Benji brings with him a wealth of experience; having worked in sports development and sports coaching throughout the last decade. He has previously worked for the Warwickshire Race Equality Partnership (WREP) charity as a Sport, Health and Physical Activity Officer and he has also been a Regional Swimming Development Officer for Swim Wales covering six counties across North Wales.

Graduating from Glyndwr University with a BA Honours degree in Sport, Benji also holds nine other relevant sports coaching qualifications. He is a Registered Exercise professional and has constructed various projects and initiatives around Boxercise, Boot Camps and Street Dance. He has held various sports coaching jobs with both individual athletes and various sports teams. Most notably, he gained some experience working with the Women’s Welsh National Football Team during 2005 and 2006 and has worked with a number of football teams in the Welsh Premier League and Football League. He has also been heavily involved with disability sport and has worked with a number of elite Paralympic athletes in the build-up to various major tournaments.

The recent appointment to Head Coach of Great Britain’s Special Olympic Women’s football team completed an excellent year for Benji after he won the prestigious ‘Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire Sport Award’ in November 2012, for his contribution to community sport over the past four years.

Programme Area Leader for Sport and Leisure, Liam McGrath, says, “I was delighted when our bid to become an Active College was approved by Sport England. We are really pleased to have been able to appoint someone with Benji’s experience and qualifications and look forward to increasing sports opportunities for all people within the local area.”

For more information about Sports Courses at Walford and North Shropshire College please visit the website at www.wnsc.ac.uk or telephone 01691 688000