Our Sport Diversity Cymru team has been travelling around North Wales talking to organisations about how we can make sport more inclusive.
In partnership with Sport Wales and the Black Swimming Association, our Sport Diversity Cymru team recently embarked on an exciting road trip across North Wales. Our journey aimed to connect with local organisations, community groups, and individuals to explore ways we can better support their engagement in sport and physical activity, particularly for ethnic minority communities.
Starting in north-west Wales and working our way across to the north-east, we met with a range of groups to discuss the challenges they face and how we can help through funding, advice, and partnerships.
EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES THROUGH SPORT
Throughout the trip, we met with organisations doing incredible work to support people in their communities. From Bawso in Wrexham, which provides support to black and minority ethnic victims of domestic abuse and exploitation, to the Red Cross, which works with refugees and asylum seekers.
Each organisation shared unique challenges and opportunities for increasing participation in sport. Following the discussions we’re creating a dedicated database to stay in touch, share updates, and connect organisations with other funders and providers to ensure continuous support.
KEY ISSUES
Organisations raised key issues included barriers such as a lack of transport, difficulties securing sustainable funding, and the need for culturally appropriate activities that cater to the needs of ethnic minority women and girls.
For many organisations, sport offers a unique opportunity to bring communities together, reduce isolation, and improve mental and physical health. However, without the right support, these groups struggle to fully harness the potential of sport.
ACTIONS AND FUTURE PLANS
To address these challenges, WCVA, Sport Wales, and the Black Swimming Association offered support in several ways. We shared information on available grants, explored potential partnerships with other local organisations, and discussed how to make sport more inclusive.
Our road trip wasn’t just about listening, it was about action – providing tailored advice, signposting funding opportunities, and committing to follow-up sessions and seminars.
RACE INCLUSION TRAINING
As part of our ongoing support, we’ll be delivering an online race inclusion course for North Wales sporting providers on 28 November 2024, from 10 am to 12.30 pm. This session is open to all North Wales sports providers interested in making their offer more inclusive for diverse communities.
If you’re interested in joining this training, please email skhan@wcva.cymru to reserve your spot.
A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR NORTH WALES
This road trip marked the beginning of what we hope will be long-term, meaningful relationships with the communities of North Wales. The conversations we had were rich in insight and reinforced the importance of collaboration between local organisations, national bodies, and the communities themselves.
By working together, we aim to break down barriers to participation and ensure that sport is for everyone, regardless of background.
If you’d like to work with us in this space please contact skhan@wcva.cymru.