Holly Vowles equalities officer by day professional hockey player by night

Holly Vowles is not your average sports enthusiast. Juggling two team sports at a high level whilst working full time as an equalities officer is no easy feat, but Holly manages to do it with enthusiasm. Holly works as an equalities officer in her home country of Wales, at HMP Parc from Monday to Friday, whilst outside of work her dedication and passion for hockey and football have taken her places that many people can only dream of.

Holly's journey in sports began in her school years when she discovered her love for hockey. She played at international level for her school and represented her county and district. Holly was part of a strong school hockey squad that competed at the Welsh schools competition numerous times. Over the years, Holly has played for various clubs, including Bridgend Hockey Club and Swansea Hockey Club. Her talent and hard work paid off when she tried for the Welsh squad and was selected for the World Cup, where her team came second in their group and won the bronze medal by beating Holland.

But hockey is not the only sport that Holly excels in. She has also been playing football since the age of 11 and has an impressive record to show for it. Holly played for Bristol Rovers Academy before moving to Wales and signing for Cardiff. She played for the centre of excellence side through school and signed for Swansea City FC at around 15 years old. Holly captained the side and attended two UEFA cup competitions, winning various league titles and Welsh cups. She later signed for Llandore FC, where they won the league twice and two league cups. Holly then signed for Barry Town FC and assisted the team in promotion and won the Welsh Cup. Currently, she plays for Afan Lido FC and is hoping for a promotion this year.

Holly's governors have always been very supportive of her sporting achievements, and she is grateful for their unwavering support. Her games are usually on weekends, whilst training sessions for both hockey and football are held on weekdays, so she rarely has to swap shifts. When she attended the UEFA cups and the World Cup, she was granted special leave by her prison governor combining this with her annual leave.

One thing that Holly has learned from playing sports is the importance of teamwork. Being an equalities officer also requires teamwork, and Holly's experience in sports has helped her use these skills in her workplace. Holly says that commitment is the main similarity between sports and work. She has worked at HMP Parc for nearly 20 years and has played sports to a high standard during that time, which requires a lot of sacrifice, training, and giving up spare time. Holly is a born leader in a sporting capacity and brings that leadership to her workplace too.

Holly's dedication and hard work have paid off, and she has achieved success in both her sporting and professional endeavours. Her story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of finding balancing in the things you are passionate about.

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