The Clean Water Sports Alliance’s call for healthy and nature-rich blue spaces for everyone to enjoy has been recognised at the BBC Green Sports Awards 2024.
The Alliance, of which BSAC is a member, was shortlisted for the Grassroots Sports Organisation of the Year as athletes and groups working hard to enact and inspire change were celebrated.
The Alliance represents 450,000 members, athletes and millions of participants and water users who are impacted each and every day by poor water quality and pollution.
The Alliance will continue to work together to influence decision-makers and drive positive change, working collaboratively to highlight issues and create solutions to help return the UK’s blue spaces to be where nature can thrive and sport and recreation can be enjoyed.
British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC) Board member Emma James, who represented BSAC at the awards event said:
It’s great to see the Clean Water Sports Alliance recognised having only been set up a few months ago. Our divers and snorkellers rely on clean and healthy blue spaces and it's our responsibility to protect them. Along with other CWSA members we remain committed to driving change to protect our UK waters for future generations.
About the Clean Water Sports Alliance
In April 2024, seven water-based sports, British Rowing, British Triathlon, GB Outrigger, Paddle UK, Royal Yachting Association, Swim England and The Angling Trust, came together to create an alliance calling for clean open water across the UK.
Surfing England, British Kitesport, British Sub-Aqua Club and British Dragon Boat Racing joined in September.
The Clean Water Sports Alliance is asking for healthy and nature-rich blue spaces for everyone to enjoy.
The Alliance has set out three priorities:
- Further and faster action on pollution. Improving the health of UK waters by 2030
- Enable people to make real-time informed choices about where and when to participate
- Recognition of all recreational water users across decision making and policy
The Alliance have been working together to influence decision-makers and drive positive change, working collaboratively to highlight issues and create solutions to help return the UK’s blue spaces to be where nature can thrive and sport and recreation can be enjoyed.
The group is calling for better funding for regulators, accurate and accessible real-time information and recognition of the wide range of activities that depend on clean water.
