Gemma becomes UK’s first Gold Young Ambassador for Basketball

A pupil at Ysgol Uwchradd Bodedern has recently been selected as the Basketball Gold Young Ambassador for Anglesey, the first role of its kind in the United Kingdom. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Gemma Thomas, who is currently studying for her AS levels, was chosen as the Gold Young Ambassador for Basketball through the Young Ambassador scheme which is run by Anglesey Council’s Sport Development Unit on behalf of Sports Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

She will be running weekly sessions developing running and wheelchair basketball players to feed into the Ynys Môn Celts Basketball Club and Anglesey Hawks Wheelchair Basketball Club, both based at Holyhead Leisure Centre. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ysgol Uwchradd Bodedern’s A Level Physical Education teacher, Tom Williams said, “Gemma has excelled as a participant in netball, cricket and basketball; her desire to improve the quality of sport and physical activity sessions delivered to children and young people is inspirational, and she has already started selecting and coaching a Bodedern school team for the inaugural North Wales Inclusive Zone Basketball Competition (a school competition combining running and wheelchair basketball on the same court).” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Anglesey Council’s Active Young People’s Officer, Aron Evans added, “As a current volunteer with the Ynys Môn Celts Basketball Club and a Silver Young Ambassador at Bodedern Secondary School, it’s clear that Gemma’s passion is basketball. She’s represented her country at a number of tournaments, including the European Small Country Championships under 16s and has been selected to be a part of the Wales under 18s squad for 2015-16. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Gemma is the perfect candidate to take on this new role, she is a hardworking, reliable coach, and is an inspiration to her fellow pupils; running three weekly lunchtime sessions and recently setting up her own after school basketball club based at the school.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Anyone interested in taking up Basketball or Wheelchair Basketball please contact your local clubs. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ynys Môn Celts Basketball – sscosparry@yahoo.co.uk ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Anglesey Hawks Wheelchair Basketball Club – angleseyhawks@outlook.com ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​