Working alongside Sport Wales, Tennis Wales, and Basketball Wales, we are delighted to launch the Court Collaboration Scheme for the 2023/24 financial year. The scheme has been established to assist with delivering our shared aim of increasing participation and widening access to our sports for Welsh communities. The scheme will:
- Create a shared commitment to work together to see more people playing our sports in community settings.
- Provide a chance to work differently to enable each sport to grow individually and collectively – a shared place to enjoy three sports in the community.
- Revitalise and unlock the potential of community places to play sport.
Our vision is to create inclusive, safe spaces where participation is maximised through good management, community programmes of activity and usage tracking.
To achieve this the Court Collaboration Scheme will provide capital investment for the regeneration of community court facilities that cater for a minimum of two of the collaborating sports (Basketball, Netball and Tennis). All projects supported must commence redevelopment within the 2023/24 financial year.
Our Head of Operations, Laura Milford, representing netball on the panel, ‘We have a shared commitment to working together to see more people playing our sports across our communities. We aim to revitalise and unlock the potential of community places for people to play and enjoy sport. This scheme will enable us to support more people to play netball in Wales than ever before, providing more sustainable outdoor facilities where netball, basketball and tennis can thrive. Facilities for the 2022/23 financial year that were involved as pilot projects were Cwmbran, Lampeter and Caldicot – I’m looking forward to seeing this year’s Expressions of Interest and hope that we receive applications spanning the whole of Wales to help us discover areas where there is a high demand for our sports and either no current facility, or a facility that is not fit for purpose, to support and increase the participation levels.’
Expressions of Interest details have been shared with Sport Wales partners and Local Authorities, with a deadline of 4pm on the 10 November. If you are a Local Authority, and have general project or application enquiries, please reach out to court@sport.wales
Picture – Credit to Mana Design, based in Cardigan who were recommended and endorsed by Ceredigion County Council (Steve Jones).