The Welsh Sports Association (WSA) is collaborating with members Glamorgan Cricket and Welsh Rowing to host a sport sector location as communities and sectors come together to take part in Taff Tidy.
Taff Tidy is inspiring collective action and education about the dangers to our water system across Wales, with the main event taking place between 12pm and 1pm on Friday 21 March as a world-record attempt for the largest river clean-up occurs along the Taff.
Various locations will be part of the attempt, and the WSA has collaborated with Glamorgan Cricket and Welsh Rowing to host one.
The sport sector location will take place behind Sophia Gardens, home of Glamorgan Cricket, and the Sport Wales National Centre, home to the WSA, with Welsh Rowing, representatives of the Welsh Clean Water Sports Alliance, supporting in hosting and organising this location.
Sign up to participate at our sport sector location!
The WSA encourages all within the sport and leisure sector, especially those around Sophia Gardens and Cardiff, to join us for the hour on Friday 21 March, taking action to combat water pollution which increasingly presents a constant threat to physical activity in our water systems.
The location is not exclusively open to the sport and leisure sector, of course, and we encourage everyone to join in with Taff Tidy.
The campaign is the brainchild of Pontypridd-born World Champion triathlete, Kate Strong, working with freshwater expert and academic from Cardiff University, Dr Numair Masud, to raise awareness of the fragility of our water system and spark action across Wales to combat river pollution.
Kate was present at November’s WSA Sustainability in Sport Conference and discussed with great passion the importance of Taff Tidy – both now and for the future.
“Taff Tidy was born to bring together people to clean one river for one hour and set a new world record,” Kate stated.
“We know that one cleanup won’t change the world, but it will change how we see our impact within the world and with our legacy projects, enable more people to change their behaviours in protecting nature.
“Our rivers are vital ecosystems supporting diverse wildlife and also support recreational activities like paddleboarding, kayaking and swimming. Yet, the river’s health is under threat from residential, agricultural, industrial and other types of pollution. This, in turn, threatens not just our homes and sport, it also poses a threat to our livelihood and health.
“Taff Tidy is a reminder that we all can play a role in helping to positively change this narrative.”
A principal objective of Taff Tidy is to set clubs and organisations up for a successful, sustainable future. Kate envisages the campaign to have a legacy of a community and club blueprint which will be offered to all participating groups.
The blueprint will enable venues, clubs and groups to address subjects such as social inclusion, biodiversity protection, financial support, and risk mitigation.
This blueprint will intend to offer a variety of proven actions that members can easily implement. From reducing food waste to sharing kit, and from flood preparation to accessing available subsidies, your club will have the tools necessary to continue its sustainable journey beyond the Taff Tidy river clean-up.
Register to take part at the sport sector Taff Tidy location here!
Equipment will be provided to participants, while there are several volunteer roles that you can put yourself up for wherever you participate, including simple roles such as timekeepers and water testers!
All participants will be provided health & safety instructions on the day; meanwhile, all volunteers will be provided training by Kate herself prior to the event.