Wales Netball
February 12, 2025
We are incredibly proud to announce that Wales Netball has won the ‘Youth Voice Champion’ award at the 2024 StreetGames Sport for Development Awards! This prestigious recognition celebrates organisations that amplify young voices and ensure their perspectives shape the future of the sport. The award acknowledges our work in developing Blitz Netball®, an innovative initiative designed in partnership with StreetGames to engage underserved communities. Led by Keira Edwards, this project was built with and for young people, ensuring their ideas and experiences were at the heart of the programme.
Empowering Young People Through Blitz Netball®
In 2024, Wales Netball identified the need for a more accessible and inclusive version of the game, particularly for young people from low-income communities. Working closely with 50 young people aged 12 to 25 across Wrexham, Flintshire, and Denbighshire, we co-created the Blitz Netball Activator, a coaching workshop designed to train coaches, volunteers, and youth leaders to bring netball to new audiences. The impact of this initiative has been remarkable:
✅ 100% of participants reported developing new skills
✅ More than 20 tutors have been trained to deliver Blitz Netball® workshops
✅ Young people played a key role in naming and shaping the project
A Commitment to Youth Voices
Listening to and amplifying the voices of young people is at the heart of what we do. This has been exemplified not just through Blitz Netball® but also with the Forward Futures Collective (FFC), which we launched in 2024. This group of young leaders aged 16-25 works closely with our staff and Board to ensure netball in Wales continues to evolve in a way that reflects the aspirations of future generations.
A Testament to Youth Leadership
Reflecting on the success of the programme, Keira Edwards shared:
“We knew that if we wanted to make netball truly accessible, we had to start with the voices of the young people we were aiming to reach. Their input has been invaluable, and this award is a testament to their creativity, passion, and belief in making netball a game for everyone.”
Looking Ahead
Winning the ‘Youth Voice Champion’ award is not just a milestone—it’s a reflection of our continued commitment to ensuring young people remain at the centre of everything we do. Wales Netball will continue working alongside our youth advisors, coaches, and community partners to expand Blitz Netball® and create even more opportunities for young people to engage in sport.
👏 A huge thank you to all the young people who contributed to this achievement—this award is for you!
