The National Lottery Dedicated To…campaign is this week highlighting the heroes of grassroots sport that have kept us active and motivated during the pandemic.

As part of this campaign, we are delighted to showcase the lockdown efforts of Irfon Judo Club in Builth Wells, which has recently been awarded a National Lottery grant.

At the start of lockdown, coach Georgina Bevan decided to lead and film a coaching session from her living room with her two children. Club members tuned in to take part from their own homes in what has become a weekly fixture.

Tuck jumps, press ups and demonstrations, there has certainly been no excuse for these Mid Wales judo fans to not keep fit or develop their skills.

Fast forward to October, and Georgina is still filming from her living room. While the Builth Wells sessions are now back up and running, the club is unable to run its satellite sessions in Brecon due to access to the leisure centre. So Georgina continues in her quest to make sure no child misses out because of Coronavirus.

It is Georgina’s commitment and kindness that is typical of sport volunteers across Wales who are making the nation proud. 

With the help of National Lottery funding, thousands of grassroots sports workers and volunteers from local clubs and organisations across the UK, have been be able to continue to help the nation to remain active, happy and motivated during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Irfon Judo Club received almost £2000 in National Lottery funding from the Sport Wales Be Active Wales Fund. The club, which has more than 100 members, invested the money into PPE, cleaning equipment, Covid signage, a contactless machine, judo mats and a trolley.

Head Coach Richard Jones says: “We could not have carried on offering judo opportunities to children and young people without the support of the National Lottery. Our club lies between Builth Wells and Brecon and is important to young people here in our rural location because it offers them a chance to try out a  different sport and to keep fit.”

Thanks to National Lottery players, £30 million is raised every week for good causes, many of which are supporting the most vulnerable in our communities across the UK during the Coronavirus crisis.