Basketball Wales Celebrates Success at Welsh Sports Association Sports Industry Awards 2026

Basketball Wales is proud to announce that it has been recognised at the Welsh Sports Association (WSA) Sports Industry Awards 2026, winning the Best Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Initiative Award and also being shortlisted in a second category for its innovative Red Whistle Campaign.

The award is a significant milestone for Basketball Wales and reflects the organisation’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that basketball is a sport where everyone feels welcome, valued and able to thrive.

The award recognises the success of the Genesis Pilot Project, delivered in partnership with Guardian Ballers UK, which harnesses the power of basketball to support the mental and emotional wellbeing of young people from underrepresented and ethnically diverse communities across Cardiff and Newport.

Inclusion is one of the five strategic pillars within the Basketball Wales strategy and is embedded throughout all areas of the organisation’s work, from grassroots participation and workforce development to performance pathways and governance.

The project has provided safe, inclusive and engaging environments where young people can connect, develop confidence, build resilience and improve their wellbeing through basketball. The award is recognition of the positive impact the programme has already had on participants, families and local communities, whilst demonstrating the unique role sport can play in creating meaningful social change.

Adding to the success of the evening, Basketball Wales was also shortlisted in the Most Influential Campaign category for its Red Whistle Campaign: Protecting and Supporting Young Referees, a national initiative designed to improve the experience of young officials and create safer, more positive environments across the game.

Basketball Wales Chief Operating Officer Gavin Williams said:

“We are absolutely delighted to receive this award from the Welsh Sports Association. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion is one of our key strategic pillars, but more importantly it is something that runs through everything we do as an organisation.

A huge thanks to our partner’s Guardian Ballers who we collaborated with on the Genesis project. This pilot has proved to be a great success and we are pleased to announce the continuation of the partnership for 2026/27 as we look to expand the reach of project across new areas of Wales.

This recognition belongs to our clubs, volunteers, coaches, officials, players and partners who help make basketball one of the most inclusive sports in Wales. We are incredibly proud of the progress that has been made, whilst recognising there is always more work to do.

To also be shortlisted for the Most Influential Campaign Award for our Red Whistle Campaign demonstrates the breadth of positive work taking place across Basketball Wales and highlights the commitment of the basketball community to creating safe, welcoming and supportive environments for everyone involved in the sport.”

Over the past 12 months, Basketball Wales has continued to expand opportunities across a range of areas including women’s basketball, wheelchair basketball, community participation programmes, coach and official education, safeguarding initiatives and workforce development. The organisation has also strengthened its commitment to inclusive practice through partnerships with key organisations across the sport, education and disability sectors.

The WSA Sports Industry Awards celebrate excellence across Wales’ sport and leisure sector and recognise organisations that are delivering meaningful impact within their communities. The awards showcase best practice and innovation from across Welsh sport, with winners selected from a highly competitive field of nominations.

Basketball Wales would like to thank the Welsh Sports Association for this recognition and congratulate all shortlisted organisations and award winners from across the sector.

As Basketball Wales continues to grow the game across the country, this award provides further motivation to build on the progress already made and ensure that basketball remains a sport where everyone deserves a shot.