UK Government announce £12.6m investment into Welsh sport
The UK Government has recently announced a £230m investment fund to be distributed across the four Home Nations – of which Welsh sport will see £12.6m by 2025.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport revealed the investment will be delivered through each nation’s Football Association, who will in turn invite and select projects across a variety of facility types.
The fund is not exclusive to football. It was confirmed that 40% of the money will fund sites that support regular use of a sport other than football to ensure that as many people as possible from underrepresented groups are able to access quality sports facilities.
Furthermore, at least half of the investment will go to the country’s most deprived areas.
The fund will support the vital development of facilities across Wales – from the creation or upgrade of changing rooms, grass pitches and 3G football turf pitches and pavilions, to floodlights, fencing and improved disabled access.
“Grassroots football clubs, local authorities and schools with a relevant project that could benefit from this investment in the next two financial years are encouraged to contact their relevant delivery partner,” the UK Government announcement read.
“Projects in all four home nations will continue to be selected for their ability to deliver improved facilities in deprived areas, support multi-sport use and increase participation among currently underrepresented groups, including women, girls and those with a disability.”
The delivery partner for Wales is the Football Association of Wales.
The Welsh Sports Association (WSA) welcomes this investment into grassroots facilities, although urges that more needs to be done to ensure the long-term health and survival of all types of leisure and sport facilities.
We will continue to monitor and engage with UK and Welsh Government in order to keep our members up to date on the issues surround the cost-of-living crisis.
The WSA recently hosted its first cost-of-living crisis sector call. If you did not receive an invitation, please get in contact with the team and we will ensure that you can attend the next!
