Community Development Staff
Mark Winder
Director of Education
Mark took up position at the beginning of 2011, in a role that is completely new to the club and Rugby League as a whole. As Director of Education, Mark is responsible for the continued development of the club’s educational outreach and engagement within the community. He is also directly involved with progressing the club’s youth academy into an Elite Academy, ensuring West Yorkshire’s next generation of rugby league stars have the opportunity to develop their entire education.
Prior to this, Mark spent 8 years as a PE teacher in Leeds as well as becoming a senior manager within a school setting. This passion for sport led Mark to become part of a national Government initiative to investigate how professional sports clubs could be linked to schools, to raise educational attainment. He then went onto work for Wakefield Council, developing the Out of School Learning project as well as spending time as Extended Schools Manager, helping schools look at sustainable ways to develop out of school support for the communities they serve. Mark has spent the last year as Study Support Team Leader in Leeds, managing a large team across 8 Study Centres based in local stadiums. Mark has also been the Project Manager for developing ‘Foundation Learning’ and sport for Education Leeds, looking at how to develop learning and education within a sporting environment.
Sarah Elston
Projects Manager
Sarah was appointed Projects Manager in December 2009 after first joining the Wildcats in December 2006 as a Dance Development Officer.
Since 2006 Sarah has been the leading force in the highly successful Wildcat Dolls Dance Academy which she runs from the Rapid Solicitors Stadium.
As well as over-seeing the running of the Wildcats Community Department, Sarah also set up the highly acclaimed Dance Team the Wildcat Dolls where she manages and choreographs for all of their events.
As well as running her own dance school in her spare time, Sarah also dances professionally at large corporate events around the country
Richard Cattley
Community Development Officer
Richard joined the Community Team as Community Development Officer after previously teaching at Wakefield College on completion of his degree in Physical Education at Leeds Metropolitan University in 2006.
Richard’s first main role was to implement a secondary schools programme to add to the already successful primary schools programme.
Richard first became part of the club back in 2001 as a player when he joined the Junior Academy. This first stretch with the club ended in 2006 and in that time Richard Captained the junior academy for 2 seasons and made a try scoring first team appearance in a friendly against York City Knights in 2006. Richard now plays his rugby for Stanley Rangers and has represented Great Britain BARLA at U18’s (2004) and U23’s (2007 & 2008).
Dan Hardy
Community Development and Projects Officer
Dan Joined the Wildcats in September 2010 upon completing his degree in Physical Education at Leeds Metropolitan University. Dan’s main role with the club is to lead the delivery of the brand new, Children in Need backed project; ‘Give it a TRY: Aim high’. The programme is aimed at increasing the opportunities for out of school learning and activity for under privileged children in the Wakefield district. Dan will be kitted out with a brand new mobile classroom facility that will travel around the district delivering after school sessions so keep an eye out for it out and about.
Dan returns to the club having been part of the Under 21’s Academy in 2006 along with fellow community development officer Richard Cattley. Dan now plays his rugby back at his junior club Oulton Raiders and has represented Barla Under 23 and open age teams, selection for the RFL Community Loins Test match against France and their tour of South Africa in 2010. It also should be noted that Dan joined the illustrious staff touch rugby team The Cobra Kai’s, helping them in their double winning season 2010.
You can contact the Community Team by calling the club on 01924 211611
