Over £1,400 raised for Welsh Sports Foundation at WSA Sports Industry Awards 2023
The Welsh Sports Association (WSA) was thrilled with the generosity shown by guests of the inaugural WSA Sports Industry Awards in June, with over £1,400 donated to the Welsh Sports Foundation (WSF).
The money was raised through a brilliant raffle, and the WSA would also like to thank members who offered fantastic prizes to those who took part in the raffle.
Taken home by the lucky winners were…
- Two tickets to Wales’ EURO 2024 qualifier against Armenia
- A hospitality table at a 2023 Vitality Blast fixture at Sophia Gardens
- A limited edition signed shirt by the 2022 Welsh Fire squads with four tickets to Welsh Fire v Manchester Originals in August
- Four places in the Bisley Lounge at Rodney Parade, including hospitality for a Dragons RFC home fixture in the 2023/24 season
- Two season tickets for the Ospreys’ 2023/24 campaign
- A new 2023/24 signed Ospreys home jersey
- Hospitality for two on any day of the Senior Open Championship at the Royal Porthcawl Golf Club in late July
- A hockey stick signed by the 2022/23 Cardiff Devils squad
With such phenomenal prizes on display, it’s no wonder that £1,420 was raised for the Welsh Sports Foundation on the night.
The WSA is delighted to see such support of such a vital charity, which strives to remove financial barriers to sport and physical activity for children and young people across Wales.
The WSF has been established by the WSA to ensure it can work alongside National Governing Bodies of Sport in Wales to create an innovative solution to help tackle child poverty in Wales.
Its vision is to create a healthy and happy Wales where every individual child and young person is able to participate in sport and physical activity, where removing the financial barriers will make it happen.
The initial objective of the WSF is to concentrate efforts on achieving 3 main goals…
- Creating a national sports kit and equipment recycling programme
- Developing a National Endowment Fund for Sport in Wales
- Introducing Sports Activity Vouchers which can be used towards the costs associated with sports participation such as weekly subs and transport costs
Based on research, the WSF has identified the specific further support needed to fully realise the Vision for Sport in Wales – a nation where everyone can have a lifetime enjoyment of sport and an active nation with as many people as possible inspired to be active through sport.
Welsh Sports Foundation Chair, Richard Thomas, commented:
“The selection of the Welsh Sports Foundation to be the headline charity selected by the WSA for their annual awards ceremony at the Parkgate hotel on the 8t of June was a huge honour for all of the trustees and team involved in the early stages of our funding journey. We were delighted to hear of the funds that were raised and look forward to putting them to work as soon as possible.
“Whilst the project has been in development for some time, it is incredibly exciting that we can begin receiving funds in order to get to work on achieving our mission to ensure that no child or young person in Wales is left on the side lines of sporting activities due to financial barriers or restraints.
“The early stages of our funding are planned to develop an online platform that families, carers, community groups and referral agencies can easily access to draw down on funds via an anonymous voucher system to access sporting clubs and organisations, activity groups and even gain access to kit and travel vouchers. The WSF will be a charity that will serve young people and children all in corners of the country and will aim to partner all sports in Wales.
“We would like to thank the leadership of the Welsh Sports Association for their continued support to the charity and all of the governing bodies of sports in Wales who have supported the WSF in our early stages of development.”
In levelling the playing field, the WSF will ensure that no child is left on the side-lines.
Learn more about the Welsh Sports Foundation and donate here!
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