Blog – RYA Cymru Wales leads the way

As we reach the close of 2024, I wanted to share with you and reflect on, the monumental and exciting journey we have undertaken as a governing body during the last two years.

Three years ago, Sport Wales changed the way in which its partners were going to be funded. The new funding model resulted in our offer being lower than previous years and having a stepped, three-year decline.

In 2023/2024 we received an annual investment amount from Sport Wales and the National Lottery of £340,000, reducing to £323,000 in 2024/2025 and £260,000 in 2025/26. The reduction in our annual funding has impacted development the most, as it has received a 45% reduction in funding and performance has seen a 16% reduction. We are now at the end of the three year transition period into the new funding model, and will approach next year having incurred a reduction in our annual funding of £80,000 (i.e. a 23.5% reduction) from 2023/2024.

Whilst the funding reduction was daunting at first, we have faced the challenge head on and have been steadfast and consistent in driving forward with improved efficiencies throughout the whole organisation to ensure that we have adapted accordingly, and in good time, to ensure that we step confidently and well prepared into the new norm. We have also driven forward best practice at Board level to ensure that RYA Cymru Wales is now extremely well placed and structured to operate fully and successfully into the future. Despite the downturn in funding, RYA Cymru Wales are now leading the way in several key areas.

Milestones

As a result of governance and operational changes led by the Board, we have changed the trajectory of our multiyear plans from significant and unsustainable year on year deficits, to a balance. I personally could not be prouder of the operational team and the Board for having navigated these challenges so well and with such aplomb.

I have summarised below some of the major milestones of the last two years: 

• Governance: After becoming Chair, I immediately undertook a governance review and updated our Articles of Association and Board Regulations and dealt with director appointments and succession planning for the Board. I was fortunately in a position to step in as acting CEO for a period of time. We have completed the Governance Improvement Plan set by Sport Wales before my appointment, introduced a director induction process, appointed a UK Anti Doping lead and deputy to the Board, and have completed a full review of all of RYA Cymru Wales policies. We launched our new strategy Gyda’n Gilydd ar ein Dyfroedd - Together on our Waters, have refreshed the Board skills matrix to ensure that the Board has the requisite skills to successfully support the implementation of our Strategy, and we have agreed our own governance improvement plan for 2025/6. I have also introduced quarterly All Chairs calls to meet with the regional committee chairs and sub committee chairs on a regular basis to ensure that there is a free flow of relevant information to and from the Board.

• Safeguarding: The Board Safeguarding Lead was fortunately in a position to step in and cover the operational role of Lead Safeguarding Officer on an interim basis. They strengthened relationships with the RYA Safeguarding Team, regularly attended the CPSU and ACT Safeguarding Lead officer network and engaged with numerous Club Welfare Officers. In collaboration with the RYA Safeguarding Team and myself as Chair of RYA Cymru Wales, the Board Safeguarding Lead prepared for and submitted evidence for the Annual Safeguarding Panel Assessment. The Board later passed the Lead Safeguarding Officer role to the CEO to drive forward best practice, and recently appointed a safeguarding deputy to the Board to ensure resilience throughout the organisation. We have recently undergone another safeguarding assessment, which saw us retain our Level 3 certification.

• Interim CEO: As the largest individual salary overhead for RYA Cymru Wales, it was decided to make this an interim appointment to see if the role, combined with the Lead Safeguarding Officer role, could be performed successfully over a period of time on a part-time basis. The aim now, is to recruit for a permanent part time CEO in the first half of 2025.

• Finance: An independent Finance Director was appointed to the Board earlier this year to provide an essential overview, check and challenge on financial matters and to replace the Risk and Audit Committee that has been inactive for many years, prior to my appointment as Chair. We also co-opted a director to the Board for their business acumen in order to help meet the challenges of funding cuts and look ahead at income generation.

• Development: At our last AGM, we appointed the chair of the Development Sub Committee to ensure that this sub committee, that has been dormant for many years, is refreshed to help support the amazing work that Hester Walker delivers to clubs and centres, just like the Performance Sub Committee supports Sarah McGovern’s remarkable work.

• Team structure: A review of the staff team structure saw Hester Walker become our Club Development Officer for the whole of Wales, working alongside Sarah McGovern who remains our Performance Manager for the whole of Wales. Paula Irish also joined the team to provide part-time communications support and has been a valued and welcome addition to the team. We will soon be recruiting for a Pathway and Events Officer, who will focus on supporting the connection between the development and performance programme.

• Office: We have moved our Head Office from a building at Plas Menai National Outdoor Centre to an office within the main Plas Menai building. This relocation has provided the operational team with a modern, well maintained, comfortable, safe and secure office, with better opportunities to collaborate. The office tidy that took place in order to relocate, uncovered the minutes from the first meeting of the Welsh Yachting Association held on 11 April 1964 at Aberystwyth Yacht Club. The minutes have been framed and now hang proudly on the wall in our new office. Trophies that have not been used for many years, including Welsh Youth Sailor of the Year, were also discovered. I look forward to seeing these trophies being presented again to our sailors, ensuring that our shared heritage includes the next generation.  

Partnerships

Sport Wales have been incredibly supportive though all the challenges we have faced and have seen first-hand the changes we have made as a governing body. Our Relationship Manager has attended all of our Board Meetings and strategy days since I took on the role of Chair, which has given Sport Wales visibility of Board decisions. I have also attended Sport Wales events, forums and Chair calls. Our Relationship Manager has provided her reflections below:

“The team at RYA CW have approached a challenging task of managing a changing funding portfolio openly with an appetite to learn and test new ways of working. They have made significant improvements to their governance processes over the last 18 months and demonstrate a proactive approach to improvement across all of their responsibilities. 

"The operational team’s approach to developing different sport disciplines and the consideration they show to help more people to get, stay and compete on the water demonstrates some best practice examples across the sporting sector this year.”

As a result of the changes made over the last two years with the focus on efficiency, best practice and good governance, we have been able to best serve our affiliates and members. It has also had a direct impact on our ability to support the fantastic application made by Sarah McGovern for the largest capital grant ever awarded to RYA Cymru Wales to purchase a new fleet of 18 ILCA dinghies, which enables us to offer an accessible and inclusive, training and racing pathway for Welsh sailors.

The ILCAs in our new fleet have been named and proudly carry part of our Welsh sailing heritage with them.

I regularly hear comments from those looking in from beyond our borders that we are trailblazing with an astonishment at how much our extremely valued and dynamic operational team achieve.

Campaigning

RYA Cymru Wales continues to be proactive in representing our affiliates and membership, campaigning to protect our sport, community and our waters.

Only last month, the Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill, was presented to the Senedd and it plans to introduce an accommodation levy which can be extended to include berths and moorings. British Marine, together with RYA Scotland, have successfully advocated to exclude berths and moorings from the Scottish Visitor Levy, and I am working with British Marine and the RYA to try and secure the same exclusions in Wales.

We have also seen the launch of the Clean Water Sports Alliance in Wales, with ourselves, Welsh Triathlon, Canoe Wales and Welsh Rowing uniting in a shared commitment to safeguard our country’s incredible lakes, rivers and coastal waters for people, wildlife and the generations to come.

This new and important initiative hit the news on the same day that DEFRA and the Welsh Government launched a six-week consultation until 23 December 2024 to review and modernise bathing water regulations to ensure a more flexible approach to designation and monitoring. James Stuart our interim CEO met with Sport Wales and other water sports to help understand the individual and collective response to this consultation. Find out more and have your say at Clean Water Sports Alliance Wales.

Community

We have introduced the annual Big Weekend that has taken place at Plas Menai in 2023 and 2024 to help our community learn new disciplines, achieve or refresh existing qualifications or simply have fun trying something new with our unique all-action format. We have also supported the new format for Ffin a Ffoil events.

The RYA Cymru Wales Impact Awards were launched a year ago enabling us to acknowledge the incredible contributions from individuals and organisations who go above and beyond to make a difference to boating in Wales.

I see first-hand the dedication and commitment of the whole community. I have met many of you in person and online, whether it has been at our AGMs, the Big Weekend, at RYA Cymru Wales sailing events, regional committee meetings, meet the safeguarding team online meetings, sailing club anniversary celebrations or during our roadshows that were held to consult with you all on our strategy. When Storm Darrah hit, I was in direct communication with many of you to hear first hand the impact the storm had and the efforts many of you went to in order to ensure the safety of your staff, members and equipment.

I’m looking forward to giving a talk at Barry Yacht Club in the New Year and as always, I am more than happy to attend your club or centre to help support you and your initiatives.

Please do get in touch by emailing me at chair@ryacymruwales.org.uk if there is anything I can do to help support you.

Summary

I cannot list all of the milestones in this blog, but I trust that this blog has helped to summarise the challenges we have faced, milestones achieved, and provide assurance that we are now well placed to face future challenges.

Looking ahead, I will update you on decisions made at Board level in our RYA Cymru Wales blog twice a year and for a third time, in the Annual Report presented at the AGM.

Diolch

I am committed and dedicated to the furtherance of RYA Cymru Wales objectives and the betterment of the organisation through good governance and forward strategic planning. I recently completed a professional qualification in Sports Governance to ensure that I continue to lead, in my role as Chair, in the best way possible to ensure that RYA Cymru Wales has the resilience and momentum that is essential for the future.

I wholeheartedly know that what we are now collectively achieving, is beyond remarkable and is bendigedig. I cannot thank the staff, coaches, Board, volunteers and our clubs and centres enough for your continued efforts and drive to create a truly inspired, connected and inclusive sailing and boating community. 

May I take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones, whether they be near or far, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Nadolig Llawen a blwyddyn newydd dda.

Gweld chi ar y Dŵr
See you on the water
Siân Reynolds