Charity grants to boost sports clubs in Wales

Over 15 sports clubs in Wales have won a share of a pot of £400,000 of vital funding from Flutter UKI which has been distributed through leading grassroots sport charity Sported.

The programme has provided £2000 grants to widen access to sport at a local level.

Wales Armed Forces Veterans Football Club will use their windfall to realise their ambitions of competing in the 2026 Veterans World Cup.

“The Wales Armed Forces Veterans Football Club was set up last October, marking a significant milestone for the veteran community in Wales and the rest of the UK,” Capt. Colin Jones, chair of the club, explained.

“This team offers a sporting voice and a chance to focus on the future, especially for those who have faced mental challenges due to past traumatic experiences. With a strong sense of camaraderie, teamwork, and pride, this club helps veterans reconnect and thrive after their service.

“We started out with absolutely no funding, but we have big ambitions, and this grant marks the first step in our mission to achieve them.”

It is one of many clubs running activities from American Football to Zumba that are being awarded a £2,000 grant by Flutter UKI –home to Paddy Power, Sky Betting & Gaming, Betfair and tombola – this year.

Working with Sported, the Cash4Clubs programme put a particular emphasis this year on bids that from clubs seeking to drive participation in sports and fitness.

Sported’s head of marketing Mark Woods said: “More than 700 clubs from across the UK and Ireland, spanning a massive variety of sports, submitted applications for the scheme and our priority was to support recipients delivering real impacts into their communities. So many of these groups are addressing barriers to participation to ensure that no-one is excluded from sport and physical activity due to financial, societal or physical challenges.

“But we know every penny is precious in what they do. The funds provided through Cash4Clubs underline the huge impact which even a modest grant can have on these organisations, and it will make a difference to the people they serve.”

Kevin Harrington, Chief Executive of Flutter UKI, said Cash4Clubs initiative was a key part of the group’s global commitment to improve the lives of 10 million people in the communities where it operates by 2030 as part of their Positive Impact Plan.

“Community clubs are the bedrock of sport in the UK and Ireland, and we are committed to doing everything we can to help these smaller organisations continue to make a big difference to people’s lives.

“Last year we doubled our funding from £200,000 to £400,000 after receiving so many applications. The number of clubs needing financial assistance continues to grow, which indicates the real value these grants have for local grassroots organisations, many of which are existing on a shoestring.”