30 ways the National Lottery has made an impact on Welsh Sport over 30 years

1. Helping a local hero pack a punch in Wales’ oldest multi-ethnic community 

Wasem Said was 15 when he was mixed up in gang crime. But when his father died, he knew he had to help provide for his family. Turning his life around by channelling his energies into sport, he is now helping others do the same in the Butetown area of Cardiff through the Tiger Bay Boxing Club.

With the National Lottery in his corner, he has turned the lives of more than 300 young people around. Through the power of sport, Wasem has helped the youth of Butetown stay away from drugs and knife crime by building the boxing club into the thriving centre it is today.

Wasem also works with the police and another boxing club at Llanrumney to prevent postcode wars. In 2020, he was crowned a Lockdown Legend and was named the UK-wide winner of the sport category at the National Lottery awards.

Watch the moment when the legendary David Haye presented the award to Wasem.

2. Powering Emma Finucane throughout her career

This summer, Wales’ latest golden girl Emma Finucane became the first British woman to win three medals at a single Olympic Games since 1928.

The National Lottery has played a key role throughout her career. Her journey to cycling superstardom began at Towy Riders – a club that has received £34,647 lottery funding over the years – while their Carmarthen Velodrome base was handed £296,000 to be regenerated. As Emma’s talents caught the eye, she became a lottery-funded athlete herself and also trained at the lottery-funded Geraint Thomas National Velodrome in Newport.

Emma said: “The velodrome in Newport was built in 2003 to get people into the sport. If it wasn’t here, I don’t know if I would be a track cyclist to be honest.”

3. Raising the roof at Principality Stadium

Designed and built to stage the 1999 Rugby World Cup, the Principality Stadium is undoubtedly one of the most iconic sports venues in Wales. With £46.3 million in National Lottery funding, it assumed a prominent spot on Cardiff’s skyline and opened in 1999. 

Since then, it’s served as the backdrop to many a magical moment – four Grand Slam wins for Wales, Olympic men’s and women’s football in 2012, six FA Cup finals, Rugby League World Cup matches, professional wrestling, and memorable boxing victories for Joe Calzaghe.

We always feel a whole lot of hwyl (and goosebumps) as soon as we step inside.

4. Helping to grow women’s rugby in Wales

Ceirw Nant Rugby Club in Llanrwst is just one example of how women’s rugby has grown in Wales since 1994. With the helping hand from National Lottery players, it’s grown from just a handful of women players to a club that today boasts several squads.

Nel Metcalfe first started playing here. And now she’s one of the most exciting talents in Welsh rugby:

“I remember when I was growing up, rugby has always been the thing that I've known I wanted to do. And the National Lottery funding in Wales is helping people achieve their goals and dreams.”

5. Breaking down barriers to sport by developing inclusive community coaches

For more than 40 years, Roy Court MBE has welcomed children and young people with disabilities and learning difficulties to his judo club in Cardiff.

And now, there’s a whole new generation of coaches being trained up so that the club can continue to welcome children of all abilities for years to come. And it’s all thanks to the National Lottery.

It all started in the early 1980s when a young girl with Down’s Syndrome was desperate to learn judo. And Roy thought, “well, why not?”.

One Mum remembers how other clubs were unable to support her son before she found Roy, “He’s created an inclusive environment here where you can be who you want to be.”

6. Propelling Welsh sporting legend Tanni Grey-Thompson

A trailblazer, an icon, a Baroness…and an athlete that was supported by The National Lottery to help her become one of the most successful sports stars in Great Britain. 

Tanni Grey-Thompson was already a household name and at the peak of her career when lottery funding was introduced into elite sport in 1997. At that point, she had competed at three Paralympic Games, winning 10 medals – five of which were gold. By the time Tanni retired from competition in 2007, lottery support had helped her win a further six Paralympic gold medals. She also held more than 30 world records and won the London Marathon six times!

These days, she continues to be a role model for future generations – she is an ambassador for UNICEF and the Chair of Sport Wales. Read more about Tanni’s thoughts on The National Lottery.

7. Creating a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community to enjoy sport 

Sport should be for everyone, and there are thousands of examples of community clubs using lottery money, awarded through Sport Wales, to make sport more inclusive over the last three decades. 

For example, almost £1000 of National Lottery money helped to set up Swansea Galaxy Football Club so that players – regardless of gender, sexual orientation or background – could enjoy the beautiful game.

The club said:

"Within Swansea and most of Wales there is a lack of safe spaces for LGBT+ members to go, to feel safe, meet like-minded people. Creating this club has allowed us to create a space for people to enjoy football, meet people and to help with their health and fitness."

8. Helping Welsh athletes get out of the blocks

The National Lottery has also helped Wales’ track and field athletes achieve greatness.

Cardiff’s National Indoor Athletics Centre, known as NIAC, was built with £5.6m of National Lottery funding before it opened its doors in 2000. The facility soon became the HQ of Welsh athletes such as Colin Jackson, Jamie Baulch and Christian Malcolm. 

Today, you’ll find the likes of Aled Sion Davies, Hannah Brier, Jeremiah Azu and Harrison Walsh there honing their skills. But you’ll also find community sport taking place as it has also been designed for netball, basketball, volleyball and more.

9. Ensuring disabled people can have a lifelong enjoyment of physical activity 

For 20 years, the National Lottery has been pumping investment into Disability Sport Wales. It’s meant that the organisation has been able to work with partners across Wales to deliver inclusive sport. 

Opportunities to get involved in a wide range of sports have rocketed, improving health and wellbeing, and – in some cases – providing the launchpad for our Paralympians. 

Fiona Reid of Disability Sport Wales says:

“There’s still work to do before we get to a picture where there is wide-ranging and local choice for every disabled person in Wales, but with continuing support from the National Lottery and our partners, we will keep changing the landscape together. 

“Penblwydd hapus iawn National Lottery, diolch for your support”

10. Backing clubs’ creative ideas to increase sporting opportunities 

In 2019, John Heycock set up Margam Stags YC as he embarked on a mission to provide opportunities for children and young adults with disabilities, those with low self-esteem as well as women and girls. 

With the National Lottery giving a helping hand, the Stags became the first club in Wales to offer framed football when they bought six frames, making it possible for children with conditions like cerebral palsy to take part.

Every time you play the National Lottery, remember that you’ve been helping kids with disabilities to enjoy the pleasure of playing sport together.

11. Throwing their weight behind Paralympic hero Aled Siôn Davies 

Aled Siôn Davies was born in 1991, just a few years before The National Lottery’s first ever draw. He is now one of Great Britain’s most successful Paralympians ever. 

“Without the support of The National Lottery, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve what I’ve achieved. It’s down to the amazing support of The National Lottery and all the amazing players out there.”

He has inspired many young children with disabilities to take part in sport, which we believe makes him a very good investment!

12. Nurturing our world-class coaches

Wales’ elite athletes receive funding from the National Lottery so they can train full-time but it also means they get access to world-class coaches who themselves are funded by the lottery too. 

We’re fortunate to have many fantastic coaches in Wales, such as Ryan Spencer-Jones, the Welsh Athletics National Throws Coordinator. Just look at the number of Welsh throwers currently taking the world by storm right now. At the Paralympics this summer, five throwers represented Great Britain: Aled Siôn Davies, Sabrina Fortune, Harrison Walsh, Hollie Arnold and Funmi Oduwaiye.

Sabrina won gold, Aled took the silver and Hollie a bronze. Their talents, and their talented coaches, are all being nurtured by The National Lottery.

13. Enabling children to enjoy sport and the outdoors using the Welsh language 

Urdd Gobaith Cymru, Wales’ largest youth movement, was founded in 1922. Now more than a century later, it continues to organise 250 weekly sports clubs with 3,500 youngsters taking part in a range of sports with help from the National Lottery

Plus, almost 200 competitions for 44,000 competitors take place every year while 103,000 visitors and more than 850 primary and secondary schools in Wales attend the Urdd’s residential centres.

“Support from the National Lottery through Sport Wales over the years has enabled the Urdd to offer equal opportunities to youngsters across the country,” says Siân Lewis, Chief Executive of Urdd Gobaith Cymru. “Funding by the National Lottery has also helped modernise the facilities at our popular residential centres in Llangrannog and Glan-llyn recently.

“On behalf of the Urdd I would like to thank the National Lottery for supporting our vision, and in doing so, helping us continue to offer invaluable experiences through the medium of Welsh to children and young people across Wales.”

14. Creating swimming superstars at Wales National Pool 

The Wales National Pool in Swansea was built with more than £8m in National Lottery funding. The international standard, eight lane 50m pool first opened its doors in 2003 and swimming in Wales has certainly enjoyed some magical moments since. 

Who can forget cheering on David Davies, Jazz Carlin, David Roberts, Georgia Davies, Liz Johnson and Ellie Simmonds? And more recently Medi Harris and Dan Jervis? All Olympic and Paralympic talents who have put in the laps at Swansea on their way to achieving greatness.

15. Improving men’s mental health through Surf Therapy

The National Lottery is also helping men in Wales to ride the waves – and talk about their mental health. 

Surf Therapy is a mental health project aimed at men over 45, many of whom are veterans who use the surf sessions as therapy for mental health issues such as PTSD. Forget Perfect 10s, Surf Therapy is about reducing isolation and improving mental wellbeing.

£14,000 from the National Lottery takes away the need to fund your own equipment, such as wetsuits and paddleboards and means the sessions can be run free of charge. 

16. Enabling our athletes to represent Wales at the Commonwealth Games 

Over the last 30 years, National Lottery players have been the biggest supporters of our stars who represent Wales at the Commonwealth Games.

When the National Lottery was born in 1994, it meant athletes like Iwan Thomas and Kelly Morgan, who both won gold at the 1998 Games, in Kuala Lumpur could train fulltime.

Team Wales also gives athletes the unique opportunity to fly the flag for Cymru on the world stage. And for some athletes who miss out on competing for Team GB or ParaGB, this is their chance to compete at the highest level.

With Glasgow announced as host for 2026, we look forward once again to seeing our athletes pull on the red vest which will inspire a whole new generation in Wales to be active.

17. Bringing sport to young people in under-served communities

Did you know that every time you buy a lottery ticket, you are helping StreetGames deliver sport to children living in under-served communities in Wales?

The funding means StreetGames can change the lives of young people through its Doorstep Sport approach and targeted programmes which include Us Girls and Fit & Fed, and events like the Gareth Bale Festival of Sport.

Claire Lane is StreetGames’ National Director for Wales:

“National Lottery funding is absolutely invaluable for our work in Wales. From one-to-one support for community organisations to nationwide projects and events, National Lottery funding underpins our work across the country and ensures that we can maximise the impact of Doorstep Sport – supporting young people to be healthier, safer and more successful.” 

18. Supporting taekwondo superstar Jade Jones

Flintshire’s Jade Jones burst onto the international scene in London 2012 – when she won gold – and successfully defended her Olympic title four years later in Rio. 

Nicknamed The Headhunter, Jade is one of more than 1,000 elite athletes on UK Sport's National Lottery-funded World Class Programme. She trains at the National Lottery-funded GB Taekwondo Centre in Manchester.

Jade said: “I always had the desire, commitment, vision and support to succeed but National Lottery funding allowed me to compete and train full time, accessing world-class facilities and training programmes which give you that extra edge in competitive sport.”

19. Developing young role models who champion sport

For nearly 15 years, players of the National Lottery have been giving a ‘lotto’ help to develop our country’s next generation of leaders. The Young Ambassadors programme – run by the Youth Sport Trust as a legacy of the successful bid to host the London 2012 Games – was first introduced in Wales in 2010 and is heavily supported by National Lottery funding through Sport Wales.

From Fairwater to Flint, we’ve seen wonderful work being done by local authorities across Wales to develop well over 25,000 young role models who inspire, influence, mentor and lead their peers. 

Within their schools and wider communities, they use sport as a vehicle to promote social change, helping others to build friendships, grow in confidence, and enjoy the many positive benefits of sport.

20. Making ice sports accessible at Deeside Ice Arena 

In Deeside, the National Lottery has also been putting people on ice. The Deeside Ice Arena was one of the first major projects to be awarded a grant. It received almost £1m in 1997 to upgrade the ice rink in North Wales.

Among the clubs that call the ice rink home are Deeside Dragons Junior Ice Hockey and Deeside Ice Skating. The National Lottery made sure anyone in North Wales could take to the ice when they funded the club to run ice skating sessions for people with disabilities.

21. Keeping people active throughout their lives

Buying a lotto ticket is helping women in their nineties roll back the years at Rhiwbina Ladies Outdoor Bowls Club. 

Specialist equipment, bought with National Lottery money, is making life on the bowling green easier for women as old as 91. New ‘lifters’ and ‘bowls gatherers’ have taken away the need to bend and stretch to collect bowls and jacks.

As well as helping to keep them physically and mentally active, the club is also a social lifeline, reducing loneliness and isolation.

22. Empowering different sports with the tools to deliver 

National Lottery players help raise more than £30m a week for good causes across the UK and sport in Wales is just one of them.

This year, over £6.8m of National Lottery funding has been committed to our national governing bodies of sport, helping them to deliver opportunities for the nation to be active.

From cricket and hockey to table tennis and triathlon, the 35-strong list of governing bodies in Wales is supported by Sport Wales through National Lottery funding and powers them to achieve incredible work.

23. In the corner of knockout champion Lauren Price

Before she turned professional, National Lottery funding was a huge support for Wales’ first ever female boxing world champion.

Lauren Price is an absolute history maker. The Ystrad Mynach southpaw was one of the first women to ever win a Commonwealth Games boxing medal – she won bronze in 2014 and, four years later, she won gold. She went on to become European Champion, World Champion and, in 2021, Olympic Champion:

“A lot of what I have achieved is down to The National Lottery supporting me as an athlete. The funding allowed me to focus on what I love doing and to reach my full potential.”

24. Spreading the word of sporting opportunities in rural areas

National Lottery players are also making it easier for people in the countryside to find opportunities to get active.

Powys County Council launched Let’s Go Powys last summer. The bilingual website, which is the first of its kind in Wales, aims to help people get moving. It’s jam-packed with ideas and activities, from walking netball to kayaking to cycling and wheelchair basketball, there’s something for everyone in this rural area. 

And it is hoped that local health professionals can also use it to signpost people to activities to boost health and wellbeing. 

25. Supporting our game-changing grassroots volunteers 

Next time you play the National Lottery, give yourself a pat on the back for supporting the thousands of dedicated volunteers who give up their free time to develop sport right across Wales.

Among their number is Tirion Thomas from Bala. She’s just 20 years old, yet is already a driving force in women’s rugby.

At 18, she stepped up to coach her team at Bala Rugby Club. Since then, her dedication has seen the female section explode from one single team to five. Watch Tirion receive the 2020 BBC Sport Wales Unsung Hero award.

The club has received eight National Lottery grants, the majority from Sport Wales, which add up to £95,475. The grants have paid for facility improvements, equipment and, crucially in Tirion’s story, coach education courses.

26. Creating environments for athletes to thrive

They are the team behind the team. The Sport Wales Institute Team, based at the Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff, use their expertise in sports science and medicine to support Welsh sport governing bodies to develop athletes as well-rounded people and performers.

Funded entirely by The National Lottery, their focus is on supporting sports to create positive sporting environments, as well as looking after athlete health and wellbeing and optimising their athletic development. They believe in a person-centred approach, which takes into account what each individual needs to thrive both as an athlete and as a person.

An example of this person-centred approach is the ground-breaking work being done with elite coaches and support staff to educate them about the impact of the menstrual cycle on female athletes. They’ve created four online e-modules that any sport and practitioner across Wales can access.

27. Ensuring equal access to swimming for diverse communities in Wales 

The National Lottery is also helping to keep diverse communities safe in the water. 

The Black Swimming Association works to ensure that people of African, Caribbean and Asian heritage have equal and equitable access to aquatics and a safe experience in and around the water.

It started work in Wales in 2022, bringing its water familiarisation programme - Together We Can © - to communities in Cardiff and Swansea. 

Steph Makuvise from BSA Wales says: “Through National Lottery funding, we have been able to bridge the gap between those that do not engage with aquatics and the endless opportunities to do so within the sector. The BSA has also been able to support young people in developing positive relationships with water through opportunities to enjoy swimming, rowing, canoeing and much more.”

28. Creating the Geraint Thomas National Velodrome

Lottery funding has revolutionised British cycling and Wales has a fantastic track record of producing champion cyclists ever since the £7.5m velodrome was built in Newport.

Those who have ridden the boards include Becky North, Elinor Barker, Emma Finucane and of course Geraint Thomas, who prompted the renaming of the facility after he won the Tour de France in 2018.

Head down to the velodrome on a weeknight and you’ll find Beicio Cymru cultivating the talents of the next up and coming track heroes.

29. Protecting Welsh sporting history

As sport is part of the fabric of Welsh life, it’s vital that we keep alive the stories of our sporting history and heritage. But while the tales of our successful sportsmen from yesteryear are well told, less is known about the women who excelled during the last 150 years.

However, using funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, a true record of Wales’ wonder women is now being collated by the Women’s Archive Wales. 

From Ammanford’s Agnes Davies, a pioneer of snooker whose competitive career lasted an incredible 64 years, to Cardiff-born Audrey Bates, who represented Wales in tennis, squash, table tennis and lacrosse, the stories of inspirational women from the 19th and 20th centuries will take their rightful place in Welsh sporting history thanks to National Lottery players. 

30. Giving us all a chance to find a sport we love

For the last 30 years, National Lottery grants awarded to community clubs and organisations by Sport Wales have been essential in giving people more chances to find sports they love.

The life-changing effects of sport can be seen up and down our country. It makes us feel better and more confident about ourselves. It also creates friendships and lasting bonds, bringing our communities together. All of which supports a healthier, less lonely and happier nation, with massive cost savings for the NHS. 

From Pembroke Octopush Club to Wrexham Fencing Club, the opportunities are endless for you to get into sport in Wales… thanks to backing from The National Lottery.