Welsh community sports clubs to share £1m fund to become more energy-efficient

Sport Wales has invested £1m in helping community sports clubs’ facilities become more energy efficient.

In total, 58 sports clubs across Wales have received an Energy Saving Grant, which they’ll use towards the cost of measures that will significantly reduce their utility bills.

Clubs were asked to apply for funding from the grant, which aims to help clubs improve their energy efficiency – which in turn could save them thousands of pounds while also benefiting the environment.

More than half of the clubs who successfully applied for the funding will be installing solar panels, while other uses include insulation improvements, installing energy efficient LED lighting and motion sensors, improving heating and hot water systems, as well as sustainable water sourcing.

Clubs were able to apply for grants up to a maximum amount of £25,000.

Among the clubs to have received funding is Rhyl Rugby Club, which received a £20,473 grant to install solar panels. The move to solar is expected to save the club approximately £4,500 per year while also reducing their carbon footprint.

Brian Davies, CEO of Sport Wales, said: “It is really important to us that Wales has financially sustainable sports clubs that can benefit the communities they serve by providing affordable activities.

“However, many sports clubs that run premises have really struggled due to the financial impact of the cost-of-living crisis, so we are really pleased to be able to support their ideas for reducing their energy consumption which could save them significant amounts of money in both the short and long term. Furthermore, such innovations are also helping to make a contribution to the climate emergency.

“We are confident that the return on our £1m investment will be several times that amount in terms of the overall financial savings generated for clubs, helping them to keep the cost of sport as low as possible for participants.”