Pupils at a Denbighshire primary school are now fully equipped for sports activities thanks to a generous local trailer manufacturer. The family-run business, Ifor Williams Trailers, has provided sponsored sports shirts to Ysgol Bro Dyfrdwy in Cynwyd, continuing a close relationship with the school. The company's Cynwyd factory is just a short walk from the primary school, and many employees are former pupils or have children attending the school.
Headteacher Expresses Gratitude
Headteacher Arwel Owen, who has led the 115-pupil school since January, expressed his delight at the ongoing partnership. He said: "This sponsored kit came about because we have a fair few parents who work for Ifor Williams and we were looking to restock our kits for the sports events we take part in. I asked Ifor Williams if they would be interested in sponsorship and they kindly agreed."
The new shirts will be used for a variety of sports, including netball, athletics, and football. Mr Owen added: "We needed about 30 kits. They will be used for a variety of sports; we have a mixed netball tournament coming up, and we have athletics and football events too. The shirts come in a range of sizes, down to Year 1 and Year 2, which is great."
Community Connection
Mr Owen highlighted the strong bond between the school and the company: "We are very fortunate to have a very supportive business like Ifor Williams Trailers on our doorstep. Lots of parents, uncles, aunties, and grandparents work for the company, so there is a sense of partnership and also a sense of aspiration and possibilities for future careers." The school also organizes visits to the factory, where children receive gifts and gain insights into potential career paths.
Richard Bull, group head of manufacturing at Ifor Williams Trailers, said: "We are pleased to be able to show our support for the local community. As a proudly Welsh home-grown company, supporting our communities is important to us. We have a strong relationship with Ysgol Bro Dyfrdwy, and when they approached us about support for the kits, we were happy to help."
Bull emphasized the local connections: "There is a real local connection here. Some of our staff came here as children, and we have people who work for Ifor Williams who have children in the school. When we have factory visits, we try to involve those staff so the children can see their parents at work, and they absolutely love it."
Pupils Approve
The new kits received enthusiastic approval from the students. Ten-year-old Osian Thomas said: "I think the new kit is great. I enjoy doing sport, so it's good to have a new kit to wear. My dad used to work at Ifor Williams; the factory is just down the road from the school, so we know a bit about the company." Seven-year-old Jac Tudor added: "The new kit is good. It will be good to wear it. I like doing sport; my favourite sport is football."
Ifor Williams Trailers has also supported the community through other initiatives, such as sponsoring flowerpots in Cynwyd village. The company operates sites in Corwen and Flintshire as well.
