Applications for the Jo Coates-McGrath Memorial Award 2026 are now open.
Honouring a Legacy of Service
The Jo Coates-McGrath Memorial Award has been established to honour the remarkable legacy of Jo Coates-McGrath, whose passion, dedication, and unwavering commitment helped shape wheelchair basketball in Wales.
Jo embodied the very best of our sport. She dedicated her life to supporting wheelchair basketball, fostering a strong sense of community, teamwork, and inclusion wherever she was involved.
She was a key figure in Welsh wheelchair basketball at every level, from welcoming new players into the sport for the very first time to supporting athletes on their journey to representing Great Britain. Her kindness, encouragement, and tireless commitment touched countless players, coaches, officials, volunteers, and clubs across Wales.
Throughout her years of service, Jo supported a wide range of teams and programmes, including the Welsh national teams across all age groups, Cardiff Met Archers National League and Women’s League teams, and the Wales 3×3 programme. She also served on the British Wheelchair Basketball Competitions Working Group, where she shared her knowledge and expertise to help shape the future of the game.
Beyond basketball, Jo was a passionate advocate for improving opportunities for disabled people to access sport, physical activity, and wellbeing. Through her work with Disability Sport Wales, Cardiff City Council, Cardiff Met Archers, and many other partners, she helped create a more inclusive sporting landscape across Wales.
The Jo Coates-McGrath Memorial Award celebrates individuals who demonstrate the same values that defined Jo’s life—selfless service, compassion, leadership, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to developing wheelchair basketball and supporting others.
About the Award
This annual award recognises an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to wheelchair basketball in Wales through their dedication, voluntary service, leadership, and commitment to growing and developing the sport.
Basketball Wales is proud to recognise those who continue Jo’s legacy by making a lasting and meaningful difference to the wheelchair basketball community in Wales.
Nominations
Nominations for the 2026 Jo Coates-McGrath Memorial Award are now open.
Nominations should be submitted using the online nomination form by Sunday, 16 August 2026.
All nominations will be reviewed by an independent panel appointed by the Welsh Wheelchair Basketball Strategic Steering Group (WWBSSG).
The recipient will be announced and presented with the award at the Basketball Wales Annual Awards Ceremony on Friday, 4 September 2026, at the Mercure Holland House Hotel, Cardiff.
We encourage nominations for volunteers, coaches, officials, administrators, team managers, classifiers, supporters, and anyone whose dedication has made a significant and lasting impact on wheelchair basketball in Wales.
Nominate Someone Today
If you know someone who has gone above and beyond in supporting wheelchair basketball in Wales, we encourage you to submit a nomination and help us celebrate their contribution while honouring Jo’s enduring legacy.
Nominations should be submitted using the online nomination form by Sunday, 16th August 2026.
All nominations will be reviewed by a panel appointed by the Welsh Wheelchair Basketball Strategic Steering Group (WWBSSG). The successful recipient will be invited to attend the Basketball Wales Annual Awards Ceremony on Friday, 4 September 2026, at the Mercure Holland House Hotel, Cardiff, where they will be presented with the Jo Coates-McGrath Memorial Award in recognition of their outstanding service to wheelchair basketball in Wales.
We encourage nominations for volunteers, coaches, officials, administrators, supporters, and anyone who has made a lasting impact on the wheelchair basketball community in Wales.
