The Sported team in Wales has announced two new partnerships with Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) and Howden Insurance Group in Cardiff, aimed at strengthening grassroots sport and expanding the support available to community sports organisations across Wales.

Together, the collaborations will bring new expertise, professional development opportunities, and practical support to the volunteers and community leaders who run local sports clubs.

As Wales’ largest network of community sport groups, Sported supports organisations that use sport to tackle inequality, improve wellbeing, and create opportunities for young people and underrepresented communities. These new partnerships build on that work by combining Sported’s deep connections within grassroots sport with specialist expertise from across the sector.

Through its partnership with CIMSPA, Sported’s team in Wales will strengthen workforce development across the grassroots sport sector. The collaboration will equip Sported staff and volunteer consultants with professional recognition, training, and development opportunities, helping them provide even greater support to community clubs. It will also create new pathways for volunteers and club leaders to develop their skills, build confidence, and adapt to the changing needs of the sector.

Alongside this, the partnership with Howden Insurance Cardiff will focus on corporate volunteering and skills-based support. Colleagues from the organisation will join Sported’s Volunteer Consultant network, working directly with grassroots clubs across Wales to share professional knowledge and practical guidance.

The partnership will also introduce “Howden Hot Seat” sessions for Sported Wales’ national network of more than 400 community sports groups. These interactive sessions will give clubs direct access to professional insight and the opportunity to ask questions on topics such as managing risk, governance, and building sustainable organisations.

Together, these partnerships demonstrate the value of collaboration between charities, professional bodies, and businesses in strengthening grassroots sport.

By bringing together sector expertise, professional development, and skills-based volunteering, Sported Wales aims to help community sports clubs across Wales become more resilient, inclusive, and impactful; ensuring they can continue transforming lives through sport for years to come.