Weightlifting Wales is delighted to announce that it has officially become a Community Interest Company (CIC), marking an important milestone in the organisation's continued development and its commitment to delivering positive benefits for communities across Wales.

The transition, which was fully supported by the membership through a Special Resolution at the Annual General Meeting in December 2025, sees the organisation move from a Company Limited by Guarantee to a Community Interest Company (CIC).

Importantly, becoming a Community Interest Company does not change Weightlifting Wales' role as the National Governing Body for Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting in Wales. The organisation remains fully committed to delivering strong pathway and performance programmes, supporting athletes from grassroots participation through to international representation. The Board believes this new structure will further strengthen its ability to deliver across both community and performance priorities.

The change follows an extensive period of organisational development and governance review. Over the past year, Weightlifting Wales has strengthened its governance arrangements through the introduction of a new delegation of authority and decision making framework, revised Terms of Reference, realigned sub-committees and working groups, and a review of staff responsibilities to ensure the organisation can operate more effectively and efficiently.

These improvements have all been developed to support the delivery of the new 2026-2030 Strategy – Lifting a Nation, which places community, inclusion, health and wellbeing at the heart of the organisation's work, alongside its continued commitment to developing athletes and supporting international success.

As a Community Interest Company, Weightlifting Wales remains a not-for-profit organisation, with any surplus generated being reinvested into activities that benefit the sport and communities across Wales. The organisation's updated Articles of Association and community objectives now formally recognise the role that weightlifting and para powerlifting can play in improving health, reducing inequalities and bringing people together.

The new structure also includes an asset lock, providing additional reassurance that the organisation's assets and resources are protected and used for community benefit.

Why become a CIC?

The Board believes the new structure offers a number of benefits:

• Greater trust and transparency for members, clubs, partners and stakeholders.
• A structure that better reflects the significant community work being delivered through Weightlifting Wales and its network of clubs and academies.
• A strengthened identity as a not-for-profit organisation with community benefit at its core.
• Greater opportunities to explore future funding and partnership opportunities, including access to a wider range of funding programmes that support Community Interest Companies.
• Increased opportunities to develop new partnerships across sport, health, education and the third sector.
• A structure that aligns closely with the organisation's long-term vision of using strength sport to build healthier and more inclusive communities.

Simon Roach, Chief Operating Officer of Weightlifting Wales, said:

"This is an exciting and important step forward for Weightlifting Wales. The move to a Community Interest Company better reflects who we are as an organisation and the impact that our sport has in communities across Wales.

We are proud of our work in developing athletes and supporting international success, and we are equally proud of the role weightlifting plays in improving health, wellbeing and social connection.

Importantly, our role as the National Governing Body remains unchanged. We will continue to develop strong pathway and performance programmes, supporting athletes to achieve success on the national and international stage. In fact, we believe this new structure will only strengthen our ability to do so in the years ahead.

The new structure strengthens our commitment as a not-for-profit organisation and provides a strong foundation for delivering our Lifting a Nation strategy. I would like to thank our members and Board of Directors for their support throughout this process."

As Weightlifting Wales enters this next chapter, the organisation remains committed to its vision of being a highly valued and respected organisation, recognised for inclusivity, bringing people together to improve the nation's health and wellbeing, and raising Wales' profile on the international stage.

Together, we are lifting a nation.