Gavin Hawkey appointed to lead sport and physical activity across central South Wales

“We need to get people moving more often.” That’s the call from Gavin Hawkey who has been appointed as the first-ever Managing Director of the Central South Active Partnership.

The Central South Active Partnership – a brand new organisation – covers Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Bridgend and the Vale of Glamorgan and it involves a range of organisations including health boards, higher education, the South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, local authorities and a wider network of community groups.

Hawkey brings twenty years’ experience in the sports industry, in a career that has spanned leadership positions within local government, national governing bodies of sport and the third sector. He has spent the last ten years transforming Cardiff City FC Community Foundation as its Foundation Director. The charitable arm of Cardiff City FC uses the power of football

to change lives and transform communities and recently reported an estimated annual social value impact of £33.4m.

Hawkey said:

“I’m excited by the prospect of joining a new organisation which will bring partners together from across the region to address inequalities and increase activity levels. We need to shift the dial and get people moving more often.

“The challenges we face, however, are complex and systemic. We need to redesign movement into our everyday lives and that will take a team effort across the region, harnessing and enabling the collective power of a regional approach with local delivery. There’s no blueprint which means we have the opportunity to do things differently.”

Professor Leigh Robinson chairs the Partnership. She said:

“We are thrilled that Gavin has accepted the position of Managing Director. He has so much experience from across the sports industry but he also has huge vision and drive. We have a real opportunity to transform community sport in the region which, in turn, will impact on health and wellbeing.”

Central South is one of five regional partnerships that have been designed to change the way that sport and physical activity opportunities are planned and delivered for communities across Wales.