Clean Water Sports Alliance Wins Sports Journalism Awards ‘Sport for Change’ Award 2024

CWSA, of which RYA is a founding member, has been honoured with a prestigious national sporting award

11 Dec 24

We are thrilled that the Clean Water Sports Alliance has been honoured with the prestigious Sports Journalism Awards (SJA) Sport for Change Award 2024.

The award recognises the importance of collective efforts across the sporting industry to champion environmental stewardship.

The Clean Water Sports Alliance, comprising of 15 UK and Welsh Water Sport National Governing Bodies (NGBs), came together to share expertise, resources and knowledge to campaign for clean water.

We have endeavoured to raise awareness about the importance of clean water for our participants and athletes.

However, we are also driving tangible change in the way water firms and the UK Government think about the use of blue spaces for recreational use.

We began with seven founding organisations, and with the addition of our new members, we have now grown to 15.

These new members have significantly strengthened the Alliance's efforts to tackle water pollution and promote clean water initiatives across the UK.

This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our small yet mighty teams and leaders within each member organisation.

Award citation from SJA:

The judges for this award said they were incredibly inspired to learn how so many organisations are using the power of sport and physical activity to create a positive impact.

The winner of this year’s SJA Sport for Change award sponsored by Altair Ltd is, in fact, not one but several sports governing bodies who during 2024 have come together to take much-needed emergency action around environmental sustainability.

Judges said that the Clean Water Sports Alliance’s collaborative approach to tackling poor water quality and pollution could, and should act as a blueprint for other sports organisations to follow as we seek to increase the positive impact of sport on people and the planet, influence key decision-makers and drive positive change.

Organisations:

1. Swim England
2. Angling Trust
3. British Rowing
4. British Triathlon
5. GB Outrigger
6. Paddle UK
7. Royal Yachting Association
8. Surfing England
9. British Kitesport
10. British Sub-Aqua Club
11. British Dragon Boat Racing Association
12. RYA Cymru Wales
13. Paddle Wales
14. Welsh Triathlon
15. Welsh Rowing