Dafydd Elis-Thomas MS, Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism
This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government
The Welsh Government is today announcing a £14m sport and leisure recovery fund for 2020-21 to help the sector meet the ongoing challenges resulting from the coronavirus pandemic and to help provide longer-term sustainability.
Since the start of the pandemic and the introduction of nationwide measures to control the spread of the virus in March, organised sport and leisure activities across Wales came to an abrupt halt as venues, activities, competitions and events were closed, cancelled or postponed.
Individuals, clubs and organisations, particularly grassroots sport, have been adversely affected by the pandemic. Many are continuing to deal with the challenge of low consumer confidence coupled with the impact of the very necessary measures, which have limited capacity, but help to protect us all from the ongoing risk of coronavirus.
The sport and leisure recovery fund is designed to help provide essential support to sports clubs and organisations, independent providers and sporting events which have suffered a significant loss of revenue over recent months. The fund also makes available funding for innovation in local authority leisure centres and leisure trusts which complements funding available for increased costs and loss of income from the local government hardship fund.
We have listened and worked with partners across the sport and leisure sectors to put this recovery fund in place. We recognise the massive and unprecedented challenges the pandemic is having on the sector and we applaud the resilience and creativity shown.
This recovery fund will be delivered by Sport Wales, our key delivery agent, and will be in addition to the Emergency Sport Relief Fund and the Be Active Fund, which are also being administered by Sport Wales.