NEWPORT’S Angeline Tshiyane is celebrating after being named Community Coach of the Year at the 2015 Wales Sport Awards for her tireless work to ensure more people from black, minority and ethnic (BME) backgrounds participate in sport.

The 52-year-old from Bettws has set up various sporting groups for people mainly from BME backgrounds and is the founder of a local charity.

One of her biggest achievements has been the establishment of Njuzu Community Swimming Group. She has also assisted with the formation of a female only BME walking group.

After receiving her award from retired Newport sprinter Christian Malcolm in Cardiff on Monday night, Tshiyane said: “It’s a real shock. Thank you so much everyone for supporting me.

“Inclusivity is so important in sport – people being included without any discrimination whether they’re of certain abilities, from a different race or they are just different is vital.

“I’d like to see a lot more people from a BAME background being included in sport and participating in sport.”

Tshiyane is also completing her degree at the University of South Wales in Community Development and Cross-sector Collaboration and works night shifts as a care worker.

“I do have to find the time to sit down,” she said. “There have been times when I’ve been exhausted. Sometimes, I come off a night shift to start studying. Then swimming club and choir practice.

“I deal with migrants, refugees and asylum seekers,” she added.

“I get them exercising and meeting people. I work with women who have been abused by their husbands.

“Many of these ladies feel isolated; they don’t know anybody. But once they start taking their kids swimming or they come walking, they form friendships.”

With the help of Newport Live, Newport BME Sports Forum and Sport Wales, Tshiyane has set up swimming lessons for children.

After sourcing a grant to hire the pool and pay for an instructor, 14 children – aged between 5 and 12 – now come to her sessions once a week.

“For one reason or another swimming in school or at regular lessons hasn’t been enough,” she said.

“The mother of one girl said her daughter didn’t like going to lessons because she was the only black girl in her class. They feel more comfortable in this group.”

But she’s not stopping there. She is now in the process of qualifying as a coach so she can teach.

“That way, we’ll only have to pay for pool hire,” she added. “It will be less expensive for the families

“I’ve always been the sort of person to be busy. I’ve always had the heart to help and to help people improve themselves.”