Wales Netball
May 26, 2025
Our Volunteer of the Month for May is an inspirational 20-year-old Wales Netball Academy player, Nia Bullen, who has made a significant contribution to the Llanelli Netball League this season, through an initiative to encourage young netball players within their community.
This season, the Llanelli Netball League introduced a new initiative called the ‘Watch and Learn Experience’, aimed at the young age group players within their community. The League recognised that not every young player in their community is afforded the opportunity to watch the Welsh Feathers or Cardiff Dragons, or even senior league matches. Recognising this, the league invited all junior clubs within the U10 and U12 age groups, to come along to the Forge at Coleg Sir Gar to watch their senior teams play in competitive league matches. This was embedded into the league fixture list throughout the season to showcase their commitment to the project.
From the 24th to the 29th of September last year, Wales’s U21 Squad competed in the qualifiers for the Netball World Youth Cup in Cardiff against Republic of Ireland, Isle of Man, Northern Ireland, Scotland and UAE. With 5 wins out of 6 matches, the U21 team secured their place in the 2025 World Netball Youth Cup. A Llanelli based athlete; Nia Bullen (GD/WD) was one of the squad members selected to compete at these qualifiers, and because of their win, the Llanelli Netball League sort to raise Nia’s profile locally to inspire the next generation!
Demonstrating exceptional dedication to nurturing young talent, Nia went above and beyond by leading skill-based training sessions for the league’s young players before they watched the senior league matches. Her commitment was so profound that she even conducted a session on her own birthday. Beyond delivering, Nia further inspired the young athletes by staying to watch the senior games alongside them. Feedback from the players who took part in these free sessions, which benefited 200 young players from 12 clubs, highlights the significant positive impact Nia had on her local community:
“Nia’s session was great. My favourite part was learning how to run and catch the ball. It was really fun, and Nia was really nice to us all.” A. Griffiths, Aged 8, Merlins NC
“Diolch Nia nes I rili joio y sesiwn!” L. Haf, Ser-Y-Cwm NC
“Nia was amazing! I loved every minute. She had great vibe and energy. Please can she coach us again soon.” E. George, Aged 13, Morganite NC
“Such a fun session! You are such a good coach, really lovely person and an excellent netball player. I hope to be like you when I’m older.” L. Adams, Aged 12, Merlins NC
“Nia’s session was really fun, and it was nice too that Nia sat with us to watch the game.” R. Perrins, Aged 8, Dulais NC
As a result of her dedication, Nia was presented with a Special Recognition Award and small personalised gifts full of memories for her to treasure. In support of her giving back to the community, and doing it so brilliantly, the league was delighted to present Nia with a league donation of £1,000 to support her performance activities.
“Nia went above and beyond to ensure the success of our new League initiative. I am in no doubt that the examples of good sportsmanship, which she demonstrated from the sideline in the midst of them all, will have a positive impact on their young lives going forward. Her dedication, commitment and work ethic are to be admired. She is a ray of sunshine to us all; a great role model and we are so lucky to have her in our League. She is a credit to her family, club, league and country!” Denise Craddock, Chairwoman Llanelli Netball League
Nia fostered a strong sense of community on the ground, directly enriching the netball experience for young girls. Her commitment went beyond simply leading sessions; she actively engaged with each player, demonstrating genuine care and attention. Coaches from participating clubs and academies expressed their gratitude for Nia’s impactful contribution to their players’ development and enjoyment:
“Thank you so much Nia for your time and effort with our young players. They all thoroughly enjoyed their time with you doing warm up drills and skills but most of all, the time you spent just talking to them, made them feel special. Thank you for inspiring our girls.” Kelly Feltwell, Head Coach Taranau Netball Club
“Thank you for welcoming the UWTSD U13 Regional Academy to the Watch and Learn Experience at the Llanelli Netball League. The time and effort that you put into giving the girls the best possible experience is greatly appreciated, and the girls had a fab time. You are a wonderful role model for the young players in our region, and I am sure you will have more fans following on from these sessions. Best of luck for the rest of the season and we shall be cheering you on!” Claire Adams, UWTSD U13 Regional Academy Coach
Diolch o galon Nia, for your excellent commitment to inspiring the next generation and for giving up your time to do so. We wish you all the best as you pursue your performance opportunities!
Wales Netball’s Volunteers of the Month will be announced at the beginning of every month, with an article going on our website and posts going out across all social media channels.
If you would like to nominate your coach, an umpire, or someone who helps your netball club and the wider community, complete the nomination form using this link – https://forms.gle/fREqFRkPFyHnoPRn6
