By Brian Davies, Sport Wales CEO
Thank you to everyone who joined our staff session this week for an initial update on Welsh Government's new Culture and Sport Strategy. With this piece I just wanted to recap the key points for those who couldn’t join us and hopefully a useful reminder for those who did. The full recording is available here.
Welsh Government has set out its vision for Wales to become a cultural and sporting powerhouse. With the consultation open until 18 December, we have an excellent opportunity to influence what that means in practice and help Government recognise the full potential of sport and physical activity to improve lives across Wales.
That's why we're getting involved early. We're already talking to Government Ministers and officials, partners and others across the sector, bringing together our evidence, expertise and relationships to inform Government's thinking, rather than simply waiting to submit a consultation response.
At the heart of our approach is an ambition we want Government to embrace: by 2037, every child will be active for life, so that they and Wales can fulfil their potential.
For us, being a sporting powerhouse means more than just participation figures or medals, as important as they are. It means children enjoying positive experiences of being active, welcoming and affordable opportunities in every community, healthier lives and everyone having the chance to fulfil their potential.
We're making three key asks of Welsh Government:
- Think differently about sport and physical activity – recognising not only what Government can do for sport, but what sport can help achieve across health, education, communities and the economy. Change the cultural norm!
- Double Sport Wales's revenue and capital budget by 2028 – enabling us and our partners to support change across the sport system.
- Invest 0.5% of health and social care expenditure by 2030 in evidence-led prevention through culture and sport – helping more people stay well for longer.
No single organisation or sector can achieve this ambition alone. It will take action across Government, stronger partnerships and changes to the conditions that influence people's opportunities to be active. Investment matters, but so does how we work together.
Importantly, our existing priorities and commitments continue. Much of what we're already doing provides the strong foundations for the future that will be necessary. We're building on those strengths while making the case for what more could be possible.
Our upcoming Systems Thinking sessions will be a chance to explore the story we're telling about sport's future in Wales, bringing it to life through your own work and experiences, and building confidence in talking about it with others.
We'll share our consultation response before submission so that everyone can see the case we’re making. Please continue to raise questions with the Leadership Team or myself, and I'll hold a follow-up session in December.
We have a real opportunity to influence what sport and physical activity can contribute to Wales's future. Thank you for everything you're doing to help make that possible. Diolch.