Winners of Sustainability in Sport Fund announced as second round of £100k distributed to drive environment change
Three members of the Welsh Sports Association have been awarded grants, and two further members have been partly funded, from the Sustainability in Sport Fund, enabling the launch of initiatives which will drive lasting environmental change within the sport and leisure sector in Wales.
For the second year, Admiral has partnered with the WSA to provide funding from its Green Fund Initiative, part of the Community Investment Programme, committing up to £100,000 of seed funding to support WSA members to innovate activity, encourage collaboration and influence behaviour change to inspire a greener and cleaner approach to participation in community sport.
Following a rigorous shortlisting process from 25 strong applications, eight members were invited to Admiral’s headquarters in Cardiff on Monday 23rd March to pitch their ideas.
The standard of applications was brilliant from the outset, and the passion with which the representatives of the eight shortlisted organisations spoke was brilliant to witness. Those who made it to the pitching day should be proud of their dedication and vision in this space.
Judging them were Matt Wintle, Head of Talent Acquisition and Development of Admiral Group; Caroline Carlin, Member Engagement Manager at BASIS; and Lynn Pamment, WSA Chair and a Trustee of the Welsh Sports Foundation.
After an inspirational day that showcased sport’s desire to create impactful change, Malpas Cricket Club, Cardiff City FC Community Foundation, and Triathlon Cymru were announced as this year’s recipients of the grants from the Sustainability in Sport Fund.
Malpas Cricket Club’s Rainwater Harvesting and Sustainable Pitch Irrigation project will conserve up to 150,000 litres of water annually by capturing and reusing rainwater through smart, sensor‑based irrigation. This approach aims to protect soil health and reduce runoff, while supporting biodiversity.
Visible dashboards, educational signage, and workshops with schools and community groups will promote behavioural change and sustainability awareness, while collaboration with local organisations, businesses, and governing bodies will strengthen impact and support wider change across Wales.
Cardiff City FC Community Foundation’s Stadium of the Future project will develop 900 young sustainability advocates through a five‑day programme across 30 primary schools, challenging Year 6 pupils to design an eco‑friendly “Stadium of the Future.”
Learners will explore carbon reduction, renewable energy, circular design, low‑carbon materials and real‑world engineering, supported by digital learning through Minecraft and industry partnership with Willis Construction.
The programme will build environmental awareness at a pivotal age, promoting sustainable behaviours at home, in school and in the community. Through hands‑on design, site visits and a final showcase, the project will strengthen green skills, align with the Curriculum for Wales, and encourage long‑term climate‑responsible mindsets.
Wales’ lakes, reservoirs, and coastal waters are crucial for health, communities, and sport, but current monitoring misses key risks such as viruses and chemical contaminants. Following incidents like the 2023 Sunderland triathlon norovirus outbreak, Triathlon Cymru’s Safer Blue Spaces Wales project will assess real athlete exposure using wearable passive samplers, analyse viral, bacterial, and chemical hazards, and link exposure data with self‑reported health symptoms.
Results will inform a traffic‑light risk system, dashboards, and rapid communications for athletes and organisers. Working with universities, fellow NGBs, and public bodies including NRW and PHW, the project will identify pollution hotspots, support targeted environmental action, and create evidence to improve water safety policy and long‑term blue-space resilience across Wales.
Meanwhile, Beicio Cymru and Gogledd Cymru Actif North Wales have received part funding for their projects.
Beicio Cymru plans to pilot the Learn to Ride: Your Transport, Your Life programme to support children – particularly those in deprived communities – gain essential cycling skills.
Combining digital resources, coaching, and structured pathways, the programme will train 24 new coaches and deliver 55 sessions across Newport, Cardiff and Wrexham, enabling 450 children to ride independently.
By building early confidence and linking cycling to real‑world travel, the project encourages long-term active transport habits, improving health, reducing emissions, and strengthening access to Bikeability training.
Gogledd Cymru Actif North Wales’ pilot will embed youth‑led climate leadership into rural sports clubs in North Wales, empowering young people to drive measurable environmental change. Four to six clubs will recruit Youth Climate Sports Ambassadors who complete accredited Carbon Literacy training and use an AI carbon‑footprint calculator to assess emissions and create Sustainability Action Plans.
Ambassadors will lead initiatives such as kit swaps, low‑waste matches, energy‑saving campaigns, and travel‑reduction challenges, influencing behaviours across clubs, families, and communities. Delivered through a partnership with Mon Actif, Byw’n Iach, M‑SParc and 42able, the pilot will test a scalable model for sustainable, youth‑powered sport in Wales.
Michelle Leavesley, Chief Sustainability Officer at Admiral, stated:
“This year’s cohort have been genuinely inspiring. Their drive to support their communities, paired with their environmental ambition, shows just how much positive change is possible when people come together with purpose.
“We’re proud to support the Sustainability in Sport Fund, which is helping turn great ideas into meaningful action, and it’s exciting to see Admiral’s Green Futures Fund enabling organisations across Wales to take tangible steps towards a more sustainable future.”
WSA CEO, Andrew Howard, added:
“To have been able to deliver the Sustainability in Sport Fund with Admiral for a second year has been so special and incredibly exciting; we are once again immensely grateful to Admiral for facilitating this significant investment.
“It’s been fantastic to see the continued commitment across the breadth of WSA membership to driving environmental change and making a real impact within communities across Wales. Sport and leisure organisations have the power to influence so many wider agendas, and our determination and success are truly woven into the DNA of our sector. I’m delighted that Admiral recognises this and has placed their trust in our Membership. “We would like to congratulate all of this year’s recipients for their successful applications, and look forward to seeing their exciting propositions come to life.”
