James Evans wants to see armed forces personnel and veterans given better access to sports facilities.
The Brecon and Radnorshire MS asked at the Senedd how the Welsh Government is working with sport governing bodies to support the armed forces.
Video from Senedd.tv
The Brecon and Radnorshire MS asked at the Senedd how the Welsh Government is working with sport governing bodies to support the armed forces.
Video from Senedd.tv
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00:00The first question is from James Evans.
00:02How is the Welsh Government working with sports governing bodies to support the armed forces?
00:08Diolch. The Welsh Government has an enduring moral duty to support our armed forces in all
00:13aspects of their daily lives. Our remit letter to Sports Wales makes it clear
00:17we expect to see improved access to sports and opportunities for all,
00:20including members of the armed forces.
00:23Thank you, and it's very positive that Sports Wales have signed the armed forces covenant,
00:26but I'd like us to go a little bit further, and I'd like to know, would the Welsh Government
00:31consider setting up an armed forces-friendly sports club scheme across Wales to better
00:36support serving personnel, veterans and their families? I think this could be done working
00:41with the RRU and the Football Association of Wales and other bodies across the country,
00:46and I think such a scheme could have a real difference helping improve the mental and
00:50physical wellbeing of our veterans and those in the process of leaving armed forces and
00:55transitioning to civilian life, and strengthening those community ties between our armed forces
01:01and our sports bodies across Wales. So, I think this is something, Minister, that I
01:06think could work, and I'd be very interested to hear whether you would give your support
01:10for such a scheme being established across Wales.
01:13Can I thank James Evans for the question and for his support for the armed forces community,
01:20Presiding Officer? I know he's a member of the armed forces cross-party group, and
01:24I enjoyed my time on that cross-party group. I think it's an invaluable cross-party group
01:31of this Senedd. I too was pleased that, in December, Sports Wales became a signatory
01:36of the armed forces covenants, committing to treat fairly those who serve or who have
01:41served in the armed forces and their families, and they did that because of the work of the
01:47cross-party group and the support of the Welsh Government. Promoting defence employer recognition
01:54schemes is another way in which sports clubs can, and governing bodies can, show support
01:58for the armed forces community. It's not just Sports Wales who've signed the covenants,
02:03Presiding Officer. The Member will be interested to know that elite clubs such as the Scarlets,
02:09such as Glamorgan County Cricket Club and such as Wrexham AFC have also committed to
02:15signing the covenants as well. The Member asked a particular question. I'm happy to
02:22consider his request and see what that may entail, but have the conversation with Sports
02:28Wales and key stakeholders such as the Welsh Rugby Union as a FAW to see where we can further
02:33strengthen our support for the armed forces community. Presiding Officer, it also gives
02:38me the chance in response to this questionĂłI know the Member joined me in a Senedd event
02:43just last month with those taking part in the Invictus Games. We often talk about the
02:50role that sport can play in helping people go through trauma and process trauma or adjust
02:57to change, and the Invictus Games is a shining example of that, and I wish them all the very
03:03best in Canada taking place now, I believe, Presiding Officer.