Elan Môn Gilford

Elan Môn Gilford, 18, from Anglesey is a young person who has had a hearing loss since the age of 3. She wears 2 hearing aids and relies upon lip-reading. Elan has been nominated for her extensive volunteering and coaching efforts.

Elan volunteers 8-10 hours a week and gives up much of her free-time to coach others in multi-sport sessions, children’s karate and netball. To date, Elan has volunteered in excess of 1,800 hours over a 5 year period in North Wales – in schools, clubs, events and festivals and charity events. Furthermore, Elan has offered a sign language course to local schools and communities in order to develop further the understanding of this vital medium of communication.

Being the youngest individual ever to work her way up from a Bronze to Platinum Ambassador, Elan was also a member of the National Steering Group Leadership Academy with Sport Wales, a member of the National Youth Trust Programme and has now been promoted as a Senior Mentor for the Wales Young Ambassadors.

Elan has been selected previously for various roles and honours which include being selected as a Queen’s Baton relay bearer, a member of the Children’s Commissioner for Wales’ panel and recently attended the UK Coaching Awards in London as Young Coaching Finalist. Elan also works continually to improve her own performance in sport, coaching, volunteering duties and by working part-time in order to fund her own courses, which results in her being in a position to help others.