Sustainability in Sport Fund announces winners as £100k funds environmental initiatives Sustainability in Sport Fund announces winners as £100k funds environmental initiatives max taylor – journalist Subscribe to the Businessin Wales daily newsletter for FREE here.  The Welsh Sport Association (WSA) and Admiral have joined forces again to award grants and partly fund initiatives committed to environmental change under the Sustainability in Sport Fund. This fund is part of the Community Investment Programme which is committing up to £100,000 to support members of the WSA with initiatives that inspire a greener approach to participation in community sport.   Eight applicants were shortlisted from the list of 25 and were invited to pitch their ideas at Admiral’s Cardiff headquarters last Monday. The judging panel was comprised of 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 inspiring the judges and showcasing the impactful change sport can create, five applicants were selected. Malpas Cricket Club, Cardiff City FC Community Foundation, and Triathlon Cymru were all chosen to receive the Sustainability in Sport Fund’s grants while Beicio Cymru and Gogledd Cymru Actif North Wales received part funding for their projects. Malpas Cricket Club were chosen for their Rainwater Harvesting and Sustainable Pitch Irrigation project which will conserve up to 150,000 litres of water annually through a smart irrigation system that captures and reuses rainwater. Cardiff City FC Community Foundation’s project focuses on education with their Stadium of the Future project. The project challenges year 6 students to create an eco-friendly ‘Stadium of the Future’, introducing them to environmental themes such as carbon reduction, renewable energy and more.  This project will develop 900 students over the five-day programme that includes site visits and a final showcase. Safer Blue Spaces is the project led by Triathlon Cymru with Swim Wales that introduces wearable passive samplers, a device that can assess athlete exposure to viral, bacterial, and chemical hazards, and link exposure data with self reported health symptoms. The part funded projects include Beicio Cymru’s Learn to Ride: Your Transport, Your Life programme to support children, especially those in deprived communities, gain essential cycling skills. Gogledd Cymru Actif North Wales’ pilot will embed rural sports clubs in North Wales with youth led climate leadership as four to six clubs will recruit Youth Climate Sports Ambassadors who complete accredited Carbon Literacy training. Michelle Leavesley, Chief Sustainability Officer at Admiral, said: “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, said: “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.” Want more from Businessin Wales? Why not follow us on our socials Linkedin X Instagram TikTok Listen to the Businessin Wales podcast YouTube Spotify Apple Podcasts