Senedd Cymru | Welsh Parliament
Pwyllgor Diwylliant, Cyfathrebu, y Gymraeg, Chwaraeon, a Chysylltiadau Rhyngwladol| Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Effaith Gostyngiadau Cyllid ar Ddiwylliant a Chwaraeon | Impact of Funding Reductions for Culture and Sport
Ymateb gan: Hannah Dent, Cadeirydd, Clwb Hoci Merched Northop Hall | Evidence from: Hannah Dent, Chairwoman, Northop Hall Ladies Hockey Club
1. What impacts has reduced funding had on your organisation and sector so far?
Per home game we have currently seen an increase of 16% and a 20% increase for training. This has meant increasing memembership costs for everyone in the club. We've had some members decide not to return due to the increasing costs of a hobby. We are now risking making hockey inaccessiblwe to lower income and younger players.
No funding to support our home pitch. We now have to play home games in England despite being a Welsh club. Everytime our home pitch flood (just through average rainful) it become unplayable that we got warned from the league due to the number of games we were cancelling/abandonning. This has meant all our members are travelling further for a home game, again increasing their costs and the carbon footprint.
2. What measures have you taken in light of it, such as changing what you do and how you do it?
§ Increasing membership fees.
§ Increasing match fees for adults.
§ Going down to one coach instead of two.
§ Ran back to hockey session to try and increase club numbers.
3. To what extent will these impacts be irreversible (e.g. venues closing, or specialist skills being lost rather than a temporary restriction in activities)?
Home pitch won't end up closing as it is attached to a school,however us and our men's section are now no longer able to play matches there so as a Welsh club we now both have to play in England.
4. What interventions would you like to see from the Welsh Government, beyond increased funding?
Suport for fairness of pitches in North Wales given the investment to Southern pitches and facilities.
Promotions around hockey and positives of playing.
Legislate there has to be a minimum percentage of 2G multisport pitches available, as again we have lost pitch options due to them changing to 3G turf.
5. To what extent do the impacts you describe fall differently on people with protected characteristics and people of a lower socioeconomic status?
Massively on socioeconomic statuc as hockey is becoming an elite sport to play with the increasing costs of membership/match fees/equipment/travel.
6. Do you have any other points you wish to raise within the scope of this inquiry?
No thank you.