As we mark past the halfway point of this 2025 calendar year, it’s been great to look back and report the many successes and developments overseen by the governing body in this quarter 2 Chair Report.

We are in the final phase for completion of the new strategic plan, feedback and guidance from the board and staff has been instrumental in shaping the future direction of the organisation in line with the new staff restructure to be launched in September. The restructure will look to ensure organisational sustainability and provide clarity to the membership for the teams areas of responsibility in line with the new strategic plan, where each staff member will align their areas of work to our key priorities for the next cycle.  

With the turn of April marking the close of the 2024/25 financial year, and start of the new one, work has begun in conjunction with our accountants at developing our 2025-year end financial report. While in the meantime, our 2025/26 budget was reviewed, scrutinised and eventually approved by our newly reformed Business, Audit, and Risk Sub-Committee.

May saw our attention drawn to the Welsh Spring Open, which was in a new host venue for Weightlifting Wales, at Llanelli Weightlifting Academy.  The event was the first national competition held across Great Britian to be ran under the newly IWF bodyweight categories, which came into force in June. The event was well attended across the 2 days, with 93 entries from across Britian and we also welcomed a team from Ireland, all looking to secure qualifications for national events later in the year. The event was a great success with our membership & competitors providing us with positive feedback following the event. We are keen to expand our venues to host Weightlifting Wales events and will continue to work with clubs and academies who would like to host in the future.    

We also had a number of members competing in the European Masters in Albania in May representing GB and putting in some solid performances on the international stage. The performance team have been busy with preparations for the Commonwealth Championships selections and Glasgow 2026 qualification processes. Bangor hosted our development squad, which was well attended and contributed building a positive team culture.

Weightlifting Wales licensed club, Evolve Weightlifting Club, have been awarded a Sport Wales Be Active Grant, to help support their community programme initiatives. Such initiatives will be the continuation of the award winning Raise the Bar programme in which our funding has recently closed for, however Strength Academy Wales (SAW), Llanelli Weightlifting Academy, and Evolve are academies that are continuing with the programme post this closing of funding, which helps provide more opportunities for young people to get involved in free strength training.

Welsh Sports Associations Sports Industry Awards took place in June where we were delighted to win the award for Best Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Initiative. Our successful nomination in this category was for the incredible work at Strength Academy Wales (SAW) for their inclusive approach of breaking down barriers through strength by the successful delivery of their numerous community programmes. 

June saw the launch of our Stronger Together Programme in partnership with Actif North Wales, whereby the first six week blocks of free strength training sessions have been delivered at four of our delivery centres, providing young girls the opportunity to train in a safe space and learn new skills.

Our annual NGB UKAD Assurance submission was completed this quarter, with the implementation plan updated. Further UKAD awareness was undertaken with our members and wider WW community, as we continue to show our commitment to clean sport by supporting UK Anti-Doping’s (UKAD’s) Clean Sport Week campaign over the 19th - 23rd May. This year’s campaign centred around “The Next Generation” - ensuring the future of our sport is a clean one, inspiring the next generation to become proud clean athletes.

The next quarter will continue to build on the work completed so far this year, with the new strategic plan and staffing structure to be launched and qualifications beginning for Glasgow 2026 with the Commonwealth Championships in Ahmedabad, India taking place in late August, on behalf of the board and staff I would like to wish the performance team and the athletes the best of luck in India.