{"id":27921,"date":"2015-11-09T11:18:03","date_gmt":"2015-11-09T11:18:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jomec.co.uk\/altcardiff\/?p=27921"},"modified":"2015-11-09T11:18:03","modified_gmt":"2015-11-09T11:18:03","slug":"cardiff-character-heather-sargent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/2015\/11\/09\/cardiff-character-heather-sargent\/","title":{"rendered":"Cardiff Character: Heather Sargent"},"content":{"rendered":"

For most people, swapping accountancy for coaching trampolining wouldn\u2019t add up. But for Heather Sargent it was justified. Last week, her hard work was recognised as she was voted Nation Radio’s disability coach of the year.<\/p>\n

\"Heather

After 10 years of being an accountant, she was roped in to coach her daughter a Aimee \u2013 a Welsh international trampolinist \u2013 during training. With a new career in coaching\u00a0off the ground, she decided to coach in the field of disability sport.\u00a0Heather founded her charity,\u00a0Rebounders<\/a>, in 2002. \u201cI used to work in leisure centres, church halls – all around the place,\u201d she says. In 2007, the group would move to their current home in Ocean Park, Cardiff.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very rewarding. It\u2019s just a very enjoyable job,\u201d she says with a\u00a0smile directed at the newest arrival to her class.<\/p>\n

What goes up\u2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n

She works a six-day week, but sometimes works on Sundays to travel with the children to competitions. With great pride she admits to having trained Welsh and British champions with disabilities. Passionate about the sport and the people she coaches, gravity never has an effect on her standards: for her, what goes up must stay there.<\/p>\n

Despite often dealing with challenging behaviour, Heather and her team pride themselves on their ability to remain calm. \u201cYou have to be very firm. You have to know each person and how to get them to achieve things.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone who comes here is different. They all have different challenges in their lives; they all have different disabilities. All my coaches are taught to coach in exactly the same way so none of the kids are ever confused. They always know exactly what to expect.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

“There\u2019s nobody you can turn away or that we would want to turn away.”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Not only does Heather cater for the young of body, but she also works with the young at heart. Whether you\u2019re seven or seventy; receive pocket money or withdraw a pension, you are made welcome. \u201cThere\u2019s nobody you can turn away or that we would want to turn away,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

On November 5, Heather was named Nation Radio\u2019s disability coach of the year. Surprised by the victory, she says, \u201cIt\u2019s just nice to know that so many people appreciate what we do and voted for it. Most of the people at the awards had never heard about us, so we were able to tell people about what we do.\u201d<\/p>\n

A dry sense of humour<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Gareth Slocombe, one of the Rebounders team, reliably reports that Heather has a dry sense of humour. But despite being able to\u00a0have Gareth in hysterics, her professionalism and sense of duty to the cause never wavers. She demands from her team a willingness to get to know the children who bounce enthusiastically through her door, and for them not to be scared of people with disabilities.<\/p>\n

\"Heather

As the evening\u2019s lessons begin, Heather stands behind the desk of her corner shop and talks to two parents about the events of the day. There is a strong sense of family at Rebounders; a convivial atmosphere which stems from the undoubted head of the household \u2013 Heather.<\/p>\n

Looking to the future, she predicts, \u201cWe\u2019ll definitely have a few more centres around the place\u201d.<\/p>\n