The WSA a voice for our sector

Paul Dancey on 07/09/2012

The Welsh Sports Association responds to government consultations on a range of matters which could affect the sport and outdoor pursuits sector generally and our member NGBs in particular.

We regularly meet with not only Sport Wales but also with Welsh Government departmental civil servants and ministers themselves.

In addition we engage in pro-active lobbying on matters of importance. Each year government ministers are legally required to meet with the third sector to discuss matters of concern. WSA is highly active within these forums. We submit papers, attend all relevant meetings to ensure our voice is heard loud and clear, question ministers and ensure that government gets the best information upon which to base its policies

Where we feel government policy is inadequate then we challenge fearlessly.

We have had significant successes historically. For example we were intensively involved in lobbying with others against excessive and onerous vetting rules and there has indeed been a significant relaxation of the burdens.

In the current year there have been a range of matters in regard to which we have lobbied and continue to do so.

These are just some of the matters with which we have been - and in most cases continue to be - very actively involved:

• Protection of funding for sport in the current period of austerity - Now more than ever it is critical that we continue to make the case for sport including its contribution to wider government agendas such as health, education , the economy, social inclusion and the environment
• Repatriation of lottery funding to sport
• Promotion of the critical importance of volunteers and support for them
• Seeking ways to encourage private sector support for sport
• Reviewing the regulations on child performances
• The Welsh Language Measure Standards. We are lobbying hard to try to ensure that this does not place unreasonable demands on NGBs
• Provision of sport in schools. WSA is lobbying for a review of the provision of sporting opportunities for children including support for clubs to render them more able to provide coaches
• Managed and responsible access to our natural environment
• Making the provision of sport and leisure a mandatory duty for local authorities rather than a discretionary one

back to article index