Charlie is a Level 2 Sport, Leisure and Active Wellbeing apprentice working with the Urdd’s Sports Events team in Cardiff. Originally from Cardiff, Charlie attended Ysgol Gynradd Bro Eirwg before progressing to Ysgol Uwchradd Bro Edern. Charlie is our first Apprentice of the Month this year and has been nominated for her strong personal development and outstanding commitment to the course.
Why did you decide to undertake an apprenticeship with the Urdd?
I used to help and support the Urdd’s trips to places such as Llangrannog, Alton Towers and Disneyland Paris. I really enjoyed being part of these experiences and seeing first-hand the opportunities the Urdd offered to both children and staff. When I saw that there was an apprenticeship opportunity available within the Sports Events Department, I decided to go for it, as I felt it would give me the chance to learn new skills while working, as well as gain experiences that will be valuable in the future.
What do you enjoy most about the apprenticeship?
I enjoy working in the sports competitions. Even though the work can be challenging at times, it’s always rewarding to see our hard work come together. It’s also great to see the children enjoy themselves. By collecting and reviewing feedback from schools, we can continue to improve — and when schools choose to return the following year, that’s always good news.
What does undertaking an apprenticeship through the medium of Welsh mean to you?
When I was in school, I didn’t speak Welsh very often because no one at home could speak it, and I had no real opportunity to practice or improve my language skills. But since starting my apprenticeship, I’m grateful to have the chance to speak Welsh again. I’ve been able to improve and learn new words I’d never heard before. Speaking Welsh has opened doors for me that I never expected.
What are your interests outside of work?
I have a lot of interests outside of work, such as reading, especially after a hard day, I like going for walks with my dog and also enjoy going to the gym. In terms of sporting interests, I enjoy horse riding in my spare time, and sometimes I play a little bit of netball.
In what way has doing the apprenticeship affected your personal development?
Working on this apprenticeship has helped me develop my Welsh skills, but it has also helped me to work effectively as part of a team and in many different situations. The apprenticeship has helped strengthen my teamwork skills and has taught me how to communicate and work with people from different departments on all kinds of issues. The job has also boosted my confidence when speaking in groups, and because I run school clubs, I’ve become much more comfortable speaking in front of people, leading sessions, and taking on a leadership role.
In what way has developing your skills (Numeracy, Communication or Digital Literacy) contributed towards your apprenticeship?
I already had these skills from school, which helped a lot at the beginning. Since starting the apprenticeship, my numeracy, communication and digital literacy skills have developed significantly, and I feel confident with my coursework. My numeracy skills are strong enough to help with any mathematical problems required for competitions, and my face-to-face and email communication skills have also improved. My digital skills have developed a great deal too, and I’m comfortable completing the work I need to do accurately and on time.
What do you hope to do after completing the apprenticeship?
After this apprenticeship, I’m hoping to move into a role that involves delivering and preparing events — this could be in any sector; it doesn’t have to be the sport sector. However, I hope to be able to stay with the Urdd, if a suitable job becomes available. We’ll see what the future brings.
Describe your duties broadly.
My duties include supporting the events officers in delivering competitions and sporting events, preparing registers, and liaising with local schools and centres to confirm event venues. I also check whether the children attending our events are Urdd members, so that they can take part. I work closely with volunteers and event referees to ensure that they know what they need to do and to provide support throughout the day. One of the most important parts of my role is promoting the use of the Welsh language at our events and ensuring that everyone who can speak Welsh can do so. I also help to run and lead sports clubs during my learning hours.
Describe your experience of doing an apprenticeship with the Urdd in 3 words!
Challenging, educational, and transformative.
Would you like to add something about your story? How did you get to where you are now? What was/is your biggest challenge?
How did I get here? I'm not sure to be honest. When I saw the advert for the job, I thought: 'Go for it, what's the worst that could happen?'
When I received the call to say that the Events Department was offering me the job, I felt proud and so happy, especially as I had no idea what I wanted to do in the future. I always give 100% to every task, and I’m proud to be learning quickly — even when the work can be very challenging at times.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to develop my skills, reach my full potential, and open my eyes to what I’m able to achieve personally. It’s been great to see how much I’ve improved as time has gone on.
The biggest challenge at the start of this apprenticeship was that I felt shy, as I didn’t know what to expect. However, my colleagues have all made me feel comfortable. I know I can talk to them about anything that worries me, and that they’ll be there to help if I need it.