CCPR: Sports Council for Wales

SPORTS COUNCIL FOR WALES / CYNGOR CHWARAEON CYMRU
Sports Council for Wales
Sophia Gardens
Cardiff
CF11 9SW

Tel: (029) 20 300 500
Fax: (029) 20 300 600
Website: www.sports-council-wales.co.uk

The Sports Council for Wales is the national organisation responsible for developing and promoting sport and recreation in their part of the UK. Their publications and information are printed in English and Welsh. The Council was set up by Royal Charter in 1972 and is the main adviser to the Welsh Assembly. It is also responsible for distributing (within UK Government guidelines) Lottery Funds for sport in Wales. The Council receives around £8.4 million per annum from the Welsh Assembly, and generates about £3 million from the national sports centres. There is an annual budget of around £12 million from SPORTLOT (Lottery Fund). The Council has a Chair, Vice-Chair and 12 other members appointed for three-year terms by the Welsh Assembly.

The Council's aims are:

· Increasing participation

· Raising standards

· Improving facilities

· Providing information and advice

They also have close contact with Welsh national bodies (64) of sport and physical recreation, local authorities, government departments, and also have a close relationship with UK Sport and the other three Home Country Sports Councils.

Planning for Sport

A Strategy for Welsh Sport - Young People First was published in 1999. The main thrusts are:

· Creation of sporting opportunities for school-aged children, particularly in the community

· Raising standards of performance and achieving excellence

· The effective distribution of Lottery Funds (SPORTLOT) for capital and revenue purposes.

The Sports Council for Wales's principal target groups are children of school age, in particular between the ages of 7-11 and 11-16, women and areas of low participation. The Council has pioneered a range of schemes and initiatives in school and community sport, in particular Dragon Sport, which aims to increase the profile of sport for primary school-aged children.

Achieving Better Performances

Work for developing excellence falls into main areas:

· Governing body development

· Provision of a network of ‘national institute' support services, including:

· Coaching, sports science and sports medicine support

· Provision of national facilities

· Support for the country's most talented performers through Elite Cymru

Technical Advice and Information

The Council gives advice on planning issues to the Welsh Assembly, statutory bodies, local authorities, voluntary organisations and the commercial sector. It is also consulted by Government (Wales) for advice on the likely impact of proposed legislation on sport.

National Facilities

· The Welsh Institute of Sport

· Plas Menai National Watersports Centre

A Service for Local Needs

The Sports Council for Wales is structured to deal effectively with national matters, but also local projects and issues. Therefore, while national and international matters are dealt with from the Council's head office in Cardiff, local issues are handled by relevant regional offices located in:

· Deeside

· Llanfairsigaer

· Cardiff

· Carmarthen