WSA and Admiral launch second year of £100k Sustainability in Sport Fund
Following the success of its inaugural year, the Welsh Sports Association (WSA), in proud partnership with Admiral, is excited to announce the return of the Sustainability in Sport Fund for a second year.
The window for applications will open on Monday 17 November, and all details can be found on the WSA website.
The Sustainability in Sport Fund will be provide strategic partnership funding of up to £100,000 to enable WSA Members to support innovation and environmental action in sustainability across Welsh sport and leisure.
Admiral’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Michelle Leavesley, announced the continuation of funding for a second year as she addressed the WSA Sustainability in Sport Conference.
“We were blown away by the creativity and ambition of the projects submitted last year. From grassroots clubs to national governing bodies, the response demonstrated the sector’s commitment to environmental stewardship across Wales.
“That’s why we’re thrilled to continue our partnership with the WSA and Sustainability in Sport Fund for a second year. Through Admiral’s Green Impact Fund, we’re proud to support initiatives that are not only impactful and scalable but also inspire communities to take action.”
The fund will be available to support initiatives that deliver positive environmental impact across Wales. Whether your project targets decarbonisation, aims to change the behaviour of participants or spectators, promotes resilience and protection of nature and biodiversity, reduces waste, or even enhances community engagement through sustainability campaigns – we want to hear your ideas!
Each WSA member organisation can apply for a grant of up to £25,000 to support initiatives that deliver positive environmental impacts across Wales and must use the Expression of Interest Form to apply. Individual clubs can apply, but the application must come through the WSA Member.
Following the deadline, all applicants will be invited to attend a Sustainability in Sport showcase day, with shortlisted projects invitated to pitch their initiative to a panel of judges at Admiral’s offices in early spring in a bid to secure funding.
This year’s WSA Sustainability in Sport Conference featured some of last year’s winners, including the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of Wales who presented to delegates progress with their Environmental Adventure Initiative which was designed in collaboration with the BGC Wales Youth Forum, ensuring the project is relevant and meaningful to younger generations.
The project’s legacy will be to create Young Eco-Leaders, with each individual participant having the chance to make a personal impact and taking their learnings back into their communities.
The West Wales Sports Partnership’s REPLAY scheme is a result of collaboration with Loopeto, a circular online marketplace. The initiative enables clubs, players, and the public to pass unwanted sports kit on for free, ensuring every pair of boots, every jersey, and every racket, bat or stick gets reused.
The Conference was hosted at Rodney Parade, home of Dragons RFC, who were awarded a grant from last year’s round of funding. The club’s Eco Hub, made from old shipping containers, is a one-stop shop in the heart of Newport, that will become a key area for local community groups to come together and key resource area for those interested in making a difference.
Welsh Sport Association CEO, Andrew Howard, added:
“We are excited to once again be bringing this significant funding into the sector to further positive practices and drive sustainable change across sport and leisure, and grateful to Admiral for making this happen.
“The success stories that we have already seen from last year’s funding, and heard about at the WSA Sustainability in Sport Conference, demonstrate the commitment from within the sector to make an impact for future generations.
“We are thoroughly looking forward to seeing yet more creativity and innovation from our Members, as we launch the second round of the Sustainability in Sport Fund.”
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