HRH The Princess Royal celebrates impact of coaches with visit to Leeds-based charity
HRH The Princess Royal addressed over 150 leading figures from across sport with Leeds-based charity UK Coaching at the annual UK Coaching Conference on Wednesday.
The Princess Royal, patron for UK Coaching since 1993, took part in a workshop with delegates and delivered a closing speech to the conference celebrating the impact that coaches have from the playground to the podium and highlighting what is needed to keep hard-working coaches at the centre of their communities.
The UK Coaching Conference is an annual celebration of coaches and brought together key figures to help shape a more unified coaching system across the UK. I
It highlighted the importance of creating conditions that support, value, and retain coaches, who are the driving force behind participation and performance, ensuring the sector does not continue to lose skilled individuals.
Mark Gannon, CEO, UK Coaching, commented: “HRH The Princess Royal is a long-standing advocate for coaches and the vital role they play in society.
"Her presence at our flagship event means a great deal to us and to the coaching community, we are incredibly grateful for the support we have been afforded by having her patronage over the years.
“HRH The Princess Royal helped close a day focused on the opportunities and challenges facing our sector, including the need to create safer, more inclusive environments where every coach and participant is supported to thrive.
"This is a challenge we’re meeting head-on, providing every coach with the learning, support and community they need to develop and succeed.”
Jon Norfolk MBE, Head Coach GB Cycling Team, added: “For coaches to be at their best, they need to feel supported, enthused and connected which is where opportunities like this are so impactful.
"It was a great way for the community to spend some time together, to share great practice and inspire each other in transforming people’s experiences of sport and physical activity."