Sporting volunteers in Chepstow have been honoured at an awards ceremony. Since its deployment in 2012 the Chepstow sports leadership academy has gone from strength to strength and has had a huge impact on sport in the town. The lunchtime and after-school sports clubs provisions have almost doubled in attendance, offering more opportunities for young people to take part in sport. A small group of the academy are given the task to find out what pupils want to ensure activities are relevant. Many of the group have also been deployed into local primary schools to run activities such as ultimate frisbee, handball, netball and athletics to help with school transition and giving the leaders the opportunity to develop their skills in coaching. The leadership academy are responsible for developing and running primary school sports day and have had some fantastic feedback from parents, pupils and teachers alike for the hard work and effort. As well as school sport, the academy also plays a massive part in community sport. Many of the group are now actively coaching and leading in local clubs in a range of different sports. Leaders often get involved in holiday camps at the leisure centre and are responsible for groups of children aged between six and 11 and ensure activities are planned and delivered effectively in a fun, safe environment. This year alone has seen 40 leaders between school years 8 and 13 complete a total of 1,554 sessions in sport across the schools and community which has led to the school receiving the Millennium Volunteers MV50 'group' award at a recent awards ceremony run by Gavo. Monmouthshire Sports Development platinum sports ambassador Anna Stanley won the Millennium volunteer MV50 award after volunteering more than 100 hours in sport in 2013/ 14 while Chepstow Leisure Centre swimming teacher and ex-Chepstow School pupil Rachel Valiant picked up the runner-up award in sports and leisure with her volunteering work with the group MENCAP. Kieran Samuel was joint runner up with Sport Ambassador Daniel Rundle in the Millennium Volunteer MV50 category. Pictured are sports development officer Geraint Roberts, silver sports ambassadors Callum Dark and Jacob Bird, sports leaders Emma Hines and Sophie Clegg former silver ambassador Daniel Rundle and volunteers Kieran Samuel and Rachel Valiant.