Welsh Newsletter Spring 2020

1 Page 2: Contents Page 3: Welsh National Championships 2020 Page 4: News Page 6: New Domestic Rules Page 7: Vacancies Contents Page 8: Upcoming Courses Page 9: WSA Case Study Page 11: Club Support Opportunities Page 12: Funding and Grant Information Page 13: R&J News Page 14: Partnerships

2 Welsh National Championships 2020

The Championship Entry Form and the Conditions of Entry for the 2020 Welsh National Championships is available on the WABA website: https://welshboxing.org/news-1/2020-waba-national-championship-entry-form The Entry Form remains the same as the previous year with one entry form per club. Each club should fill in all of the details for each boxer it is entering into the Championships and submit one form from the club. There is no general weigh in, and boxers should submit the weight class they wish to compete at for the Championships. The weight classes are included in the Conditions of Entry. Please note, you can request a lower weight category to be added. Please add the boxer onto the entry form and the Office will be in contact if that boxer can be matched at that lower weight category. The deadline to submit the entry form is Friday 21st February 2020. There is a £10 entry fee per boxer, to be paid to Welsh Amateur Boxing Association. The dates of the Championships are: • Junior, Youth and Elite (Senior) Preliminaries: Saturday 4th April 2020 and Sunday 5th April 2020 • Junior, Youth and Elite (Senior) Quarter Finals: Saturday 11th April 2020 • Junior, Youth and Elite (Senior) Semi Finals: Sunday 12th April 2020 • Elite (Senior) Final: Friday 17th April 2020 • Youth and Junior Final: Saturday 18th April 2020

The Schools and Minors Championships with take place from 2nd May, and the Entry Form will be released approximately 6 weeks before the competition starts.

3 News Maelor ABC Port Talbot Bulldogs v England Squad

Recently Maelor ABC took some of The UK Coaching Awards were held Llongyfarchiadau to those selected their boxers to Portugal for the on Thursday 5th December at the to represent Wales in the upcoming Odivelas Box Cup. Tower Hotel in London. Wales V England international!

Maelor ABC came home with 4 We are thrilled to announce that Boxing will take place Saturday 8th medals and memories of a great the “Coaching for an Active Life” February and Sunday 9th February experience. Award goes to… at the National Boxing Centre, Sport Wales. Cory Jones won a bronze medal, “Port Talbot Bulldogs” Gary Richards won a Silver medal, Cyflawni dros Gymru! with brothers Harry Roberts and Delivered by Bulldogs BCA & Port Thomas Roberts also taking home Talbot Amateur Boxing Club, the medals. programme has engaged nearly 500 people, w/ over 80% reporting an Maelor ABC will be looking to go improvement in their well-being. the tournament again next year, if any other clubs would be interested Congratulations to the Club! please contact Butch from Maelor ABC for more details.

Congratulations to all the boxers and coaches for a successful trip!

4 3 Welsh athletes have been selected to represent GB for the Olympic Qualifiers at the Copper Box Arena in London, 14th - 24th March. Huge congratulations to Sammy Lee, Rosie Eccles and Lauren Price. A fantastic achievement and all of Welsh Boxing is behind you!

5 New Domestic Rules The 2020 Domestic Rules are available to download in the Download section of the Welsh Boxing website: https://welshboxing.org/downloads

6 1. Community Development Officer Post: https://welshboxing.org/news-1/community-development- officer-vacancy 2. Safeguarding and Equality Board Director: Vacancies https://welshboxing.org/news-1/safeguarding-and-equality- board-director-vacancy

3. External Funding Board Director: https://welshboxing.org/news-1/external-funding-board- director-vacancy

7 Governance Case Study The following year, the Governance & Leadership Acorn Executive Search was brought in to help source Welsh Amateur Boxing Association (WABA) Framework for Wales (GLFW) was also published. external candidates, and a communications strategy Developed by sport for sport, it included principles to was developed to engage with WABA divisions so that Wales has long punched above its weight in terms of which sports organisations could work to improve any questions around the process could be answered boxing success of the global stage. All professional their governance and transparency, but also to in full. This also allowed the opportunity for members boxers in Wales will have started within the amateur examine their attitudes and behaviours around to make suggestions as to how the future Board could ranks, and over the last century our nation has equality and diversity. All funded sports in Wales were support and benefit members and ensured that they produced many world class boxers and champions at expected to work towards the principles, and Sport understood that the process would be transparent both amateur and professional levels. and Recreation Alliance (SRA) were commissioned by Sport Wales to provide strategic support in order to Recruitment WABA was established in 1910 to promote and help the organisations on this journey. develop amateur boxing in Wales and is recognized as All nominees for election to the Board, including the the national governing body for the amateur sport in By 2015 a further audit of WABA demonstrated that Chairman Nominee, were required to present to an Wales. Funded by Sport Wales, it is a National little progress had been made against the independent panel on what skills they would bring Member Federation of the International Amateur recommendations, so a consultant was commissioned that would add value, and a concerted effort was Boxing Association (AIBA), and also a home nation to work with the board to address these issues. made to ensure that there were sufficient attendees member of the British Amateur Boxing Association Unfortunately, there was disagreement between to ensure that the subsequent AGM, where decisions (BABA), which is funded by UK Sport. factions on the Board, and by 2017 its relationship would be ratified, was quorate. Indeed, the 2017 AGM Background with Sport Wales had broken down to such an extent enjoyed its highest attendance levels, and all agenda that sufficient confidence in the Board had been lost – items were able to be enacted. Like many organisations reliant on volunteers for its resulting in a request for the entire Board’s non-executive director roles, WABA faced considerable resignations or risk losing funding. Following a thorough recruitment process, a new challenges around modernising its’ approaches. Issues Board was swiftly established containing the required had been identified by independent auditors around Challenges specialist expertise and a desire to fundamentally financial transparency and governance within WABA address its functionality, including a commitment to for some years, and in 2013, an independent audit Following the resignation of the Board, an Interim fully review its policies and subgroups, including a commissioned by Sport Wales produced Chief Operating Officer was appointed to oversee and finance committee, but who were also familiar with recommendations to improve the governance support the changes to the new Board structure, and the sport and WABA’s grass roots clubs. procedures of WABA. an audit was undertaken to establish the types of skill sets necessary for the new board roles.

8 Skills & Behaviours to achieve a consensus. Approval was also given at the disagreements at times, but they retain respect for AGM to allow non-elected directors to have full voting each other. The Board is also reviewing how it works, Acorn Executive Search were again drafted in to rights, effectively ensuring that the quorum issues including their culture and behaviours, ensuring identify and recruit three skills-based roles, specifically which had previously stifled the board’s ability to continuous improvement. It is this approach, coupled targeting areas that needed to be addressed; govern effectively could now be addressed. with the systematic changes that have been made to Governance, Safeguarding and Legal. The standard of address any issues, that has given funders the applications was extremely high, ensuring that the Most importantly, the Board were able to present a confidence to continue to invest in their delivery. competitive process would lead to high calibre completely “clean” report from external auditors – appointments. Any identified additional training needs demonstrating that they had made substantial WABA Chair, Derek McAndrew said: for board members were met by the SRA’s GLFW progress in all areas of concern. Furthermore, towards support. the end of 2018, WABA’s Finance Committee was able “It was really important to me that we created the to evidence at that all recommendations made by right environment so that the sport can flourish, and This recruitment process meant that WABA were able previous external audit reports in 2012, 2015 and 2018 that every club in Wales can continue to open its doors to attract the skills that they needed, and with the had been actioned and closed off. and develop. We are ambitious, so there is still much existing strong leadership in the staff team for their to do, but we’ve made great strides and with the help performance programme, they then elected a Chair Support and support of our Clubs and other Stakeholders, will who both knew the sport and WABA, and in whom the continue to do so. clubs could trust. They also appointed a financial One of the many strengths has been that despite the expert to deal with the difficult financial position and many challenges the Board were able to recognise “We’ve improved our relationship both in Wales and to work through the audit findings. when they required assistance, utilising a range of with other Home Nations’ bodies, and I’m confident different sources depending on need, such as: that the current board fundamentally understands the The new Governance lead together with WABA’s new bigger picture and the landscape to best place boxing Chairman, worked with an external consultant to - WSA’s free Legal helpline in Wales for sustained success. Our fantastic success in identify 57 desirable changes to the WABA articles. 24 - the GLFW support service (then with the SRA, the 2018 Commonwealth Games where Wales of these changes were prioritized and amended at the now with WSA) achieved its greatest ever Boxing Medal haul was an October 2018 AGM, allowing the board to make real - Governance and finance consultants contracted early indicator of initial success”. progress against the auditor’s recommendations. to Sport Wales and WSA Significantly, they operated with integrity even when - Sport Wales staff things were tough. It was a very challenging time and For further information, please contact things did not always go smoothly, but in taking a Throughout all of this they operate with good [email protected] consultative and transparent approach they were able governance behaviours – there may be strong

9 Upcoming Courses Safeguarding and Protecting Children course Club Coach Course: Northern Division

The course will run on Tuesday 18 February, here at the Sport Wales Taking place at Deva ABC on: National Centre in and will start at 6pm. 14th/15th March and 28th/29th March. All are welcome to sign up, although clearly this will focus on those from the East and South, with other courses being arranged for the West and To book onto the course please email [email protected] North in the near future.

Please pass this on to your Child Welfare Officer and either:

▪Confirm with the Office that your Child Welfare Officer has already taken the course

▪Book your Child Welfare Officer on to the course by email to the Office

▪Identify a change of Child Welfare Officer in your club and book he/she on to the course

The Office contact is Amy Garrett, on [email protected]

10 Club Support Club Solutions: ◦ An extremely helpful Sport Wales online learning resource that has been going for about three years now. The website will help your club in all matters relating to your club, there is a useful newsletter to sign up to and a Club Solutions Assessment Tool to help you identify areas of support. Currently there are 16 clubs using Club Solutions. http://www.clubsolutions.wales/useful-links/ Sported: ◦ A charitable organisation working with a number of Welsh boxing clubs already using their ‘Capacity Model’ to identify what a club should have in place to ensure sustainability. Membership is free. https://sported.org.uk/

11 Funding

WSA Funding Opportunities: Successful Community Chest Applicants: Gelligaer and District ABC Kenfighill ABC https://wsa.wales/funding-database/ Nantymoel ABC Caerau Dragons ABC Funding links: Pontypool ABC https://sported.org.uk/sported-wales-opportunities/ Cwmbran ABC ABC Applications are now open for the newly refreshed Aviva Community Fund programme. They are calling on small charities and community Pembroke Dockers ABC interest groups with innovative ideas to submit their projects for funding Pembroke & Pembroke Dock ABC before 11 February - https://www.aviva.co.uk/services/more-from- aviva/aviva-community-fund/

The London Marathon Charitable Trust has announced £2.6million for Successful ‘Place For Sport’ Applicants: Ashley Brace Boxing Academy Strategic Partnerships Grants to deliver its vision of inspiring activity and Llanedeyrn and Pentwyn ABC enabling people to become and remain physically active regardless of Caerau Ely ABC age, gender, ability, race or background. Grange Catholic ABC https://www.connectsport.co.uk/news/london-marathon-charitable- St Joseph's ABC trust-offers-%C2%A378m-grant-funding - Premier ABC

12 Congratulations to the following officials on their recent selections:

John Waith, who has been selected by the Boxing Task Force to take part as a Technical Official (Technical Delegate) for the African, Asia and Oceania Boxing Road to Tokyo 2020. Referees and Mark Williams, who has been selected by the Boxing Task Judges News Force to take part in the Asia and Oceania Boxing Road to Tokyo 2020.

Mark Williams has been selected as the EUBC Best Male Referee and Judge of the Year. Congratulations to Mark on this impressive achievement!

13 Welsh Hearts

Although it is not mandatory, Welsh Boxing would encourage clubs to Defibrillator Appeal for Welsh Boxing Clubs have a defibrillator on site if at all possible and here is an organisation that can help you obtain one. I am writing on behalf of Welsh Hearts. Since 2013, the Charity has played a leading role in improving heart health in Wales; vitally Welsh Hearts have grants for sport clubs in Wales to help acquire this life important work, since a third of all deaths in the country are the result of saving equipment. The usual cost for an IPAD SP1 Defibrillator is £1195 cardiovascular disease. which is one of Welsh Ambulances approved defibrillators in Wales however at present due to Welsh Hearts having received a small grant, Welsh Hearts would like to work with Welsh Boxing to ensure that all they are currently able to donate £200 towards the cost of each affiliated clubs across Wales have a functional Defibrillator available at all defibrillator supplied by them, this meaning the present required times. minimum donation is £995.00 this being for the advanced dual functioning SP1 IPAD Defibrillator. Importantly this model can be applied Additionally, if your clubs already have a defibrillator and would like free to both an adult and a minor at the flick of a switch rather than having to CPR training, please do not hesitate to get in touch. change the pads – thereby saving vital time.

Also, as a charity, they are fortunate enough to work alongside a team of ambulance service trained first aid responders which means they are able to provide a FREE CPR & Defibrillator Awareness Training session. Welsh Hearts

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