A YOUNG volunteer has made it through to the finalist stage of the Wales Sport Awards.

Ieuan Coombes, a 21 year old who comes from Caerleon, began volunteering with

Monmouthshire's Sports Development Team when he was 17 and focused on increasing young people's participation in disability sports.

As with many, a passion for sport has driven him to coach to help others gain what he has.

Ieuan says: "Sport has helped me challenge the physical limitations of my disability and helped me to develop confidence. I thought I could do more than just participate."

Recognising that confidence is crucial to young people getting involved, he used all sorts of activities to get them involved – not sticking purely to sports either.

Ieuan included cooking and music as routes to tying out new sports including archery, boccia and kurling.

"You have to develop a rapport with them from day one and have a real focus on enjoyment so they'll want to do it again," says Ieuan who has a form of cerebral palsy which affects his movement.

"Developing basic skills such as throwing and catching is important so they can take it to other sports and develop the whole person.

"It's not so much about being elite but having a positive experience and staying engaged, then they'll be willing to try more complex skills."

Monmouthshire leisure has benefited not just from Ieuan's time but also his practices, setting up a strong inclusion programme within the region.

Ieuan continues: "It's about trying to ensure that disability sport becomes mainstream, so kids feel motivated long term to become coaches and

volunteers."

He is currently studying for a sports development degree and the volunteering work fits in nicely with that.

"It makes it worthwhile when the kids say, 'thank you for coming today'. I don't think there's a bigger statement than that, and that's what makes it easy for me to say, 'I do have lots of commitments but I need to fit this in'."

What began as a hobby has given Ieuan ideas for his future career, and he's giving a role in sports development or teaching serious consideration.

"I've always said that if your work is enjoyable then it's the right place to be, and I always come home happy."

At the moment he's quite content to enjoy the glow from his nomination as Young Volunteer of the Year.

"I was taken aback just to be nominated for such a prestigious award. It is a massive honour."