Community sport comes together at Accu Stadium for first Sport Welfare Marketplace

Clubs, volunteers, and support organisations gathered at the Accu Stadium yesterday for a successful and inspiring first-ever Sport Welfare Marketplace event, bringing a strong sense of collaboration and shared purpose to the heart of the local sporting community.

The event saw YSF Sport Welfare Officers, Measha Harris and Nicola Holmes host a wide range of specialist services from across Kirklees and beyond, creating a welcoming space for clubs and activity providers to connect with vital sources of support. Representatives from National Governing Bodies and the charity Sported also joined the day, helping to strengthen links across the wider sports network.

Attendees had the opportunity to engage with organisations offering expertise in areas that are increasingly recognised as essential to safe and inclusive sport. These included services supporting individuals affected by domestic abuse, gambling-related harm, substance misuse, and mental health challenges. Additional support was available around sexual health, inclusion, and equality, ensuring that clubs could access a holistic range of guidance to better support their members.

The atmosphere throughout the day was described as positive and energising, with clubs demonstrating a clear commitment to enhancing the wellbeing and safeguarding of everyone involved in their activities. Conversations flowed easily between providers and participants, with many taking away practical advice, new contacts, and fresh ideas for strengthening welfare support within their own settings.

YSF Sport Welfare Officer, Nicola Holmes, reflected on the success of the event, saying:

“We were delighted that so many clubs and activities turned up and showed their commitment to improve safeguarding and welfare for their staff, volunteers and members. It’s great that Sport Welfare Officers are able to provide forums and spaces for people to connect and collaborate in this way.”

The marketplace format proved particularly effective in encouraging open dialogue, allowing attendees to explore a wide variety of support services in one place. For many clubs, it was a valuable opportunity to better understand how external organisations can complement their efforts on the ground.

Events like this highlight the growing recognition that sport plays a crucial role not just in physical health, but in supporting wider wellbeing across communities. By bringing together professionals, volunteers, and specialists, the Sport Welfare Marketplace has laid the groundwork for stronger partnerships and more resilient sporting environments.

Many thanks go out to all the partners who supported the event, including: TSL Kirklees, Kooth Digital Health, Leeds Mind, GamCare, Pennine Domestic Abuse Partnership (PDAP), Sported, Kirklees Council, West Yorkshire Police, British Gymnastics, Swim England, West Riding County Football Association Limited, Yorkshire Cricket Foundation, and others. With such a positive response to this inaugural event, there is clear momentum to continue building these connections in the future—ensuring that local sport remains safe, inclusive, and supportive for all.