November Volunteer of the Month

Hayley Farrugia has been hailed as a ‘Club Secretary Superwoman’, going above and beyond daily for those at Penybont Herons Netball Club – for over a decade. Hayley is our Volunteer of the Month for November in recognition of her consistency in showing up for the club and every member who is a part of it.

Hayley Farrugia has been with Penybont Herons Netball Club for over 11 years and has grown the club from strength to strength. What started as one team of nine players, has now grown into four teams with over 50 women playing netball within the club. Herons provides a place for so many women within Bridgend from different walks of life to come together and keep fit, have time away from daily stresses, channel their competitiveness and be a part of a community with team spirit.

“Hayley fully deserves this recognition for volunteer of the month! Hayley is the reason Herons Netball has developed into the club we are today, one that is continuing to thrive. She deserves a huge thank you for all her hard work, patience and commitment.” – Aimee Jones.

Hayley has been described as a quiet worker in the background who is a genuine friend to everyone. Not only does she do an incredible amount of work for the club – booking venues, ordering club kit and filling out support paperwork, but she also finds sponsorships to help offset the costs of playing netball, to ensure that cost is not a barrier to women accessing the sport and enjoying it. As well as these bigger undertakings, Hayley will also think of other ways to bring club members together:

“It’s the little details that she thinks no one will notice that makes her the outstanding human being that she is, like ordering us all club socks and giving us personalised water bottles with our names on them… She is the heart and soul of Herons Netball Bridgend, and she deserves all the recognition in the world.” – Ellis Williams.

Hayley is also known to be a problem solver. For the past 11 years she has fixed any barrier the club has come against, ensuring members can continue their participation in the sport that they love. Constantly being faced with cancelled or denied bookings for venue space, Hayley makes it her mission to find the members a safe space to enjoy netball. Never once complaining, she also does the hard jobs that others often don’t want to do – such as chasing people for payments and asking for support during the cost-of-living crisis.

“I have been a part of Herons for over a decade and thanks to Hayley the club is a positive, welcoming and dynamic environment to be a part of. Hayley is integral to the club, completing all the mundane tasks that come with it with a smile and cheery manner and without complaint. None of it would be possible without the dedication, graft and positiveness from Hayley and we are forever grateful!” – Vicky King.

A big thank you to Hayley from Wales Netball for all your hard work that is at the forefront of Herons success, you are an incredible asset to the club!

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