WNST visits the Millennium Stadium

WNST Chief Executive, Stewart Goshawk, was pleased to be able to pay a recent visit to the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, home of the Millennium Stadium Charitable Trust (MSCT).  The stadium was one of the principal developments in Wales by the Millennium Commission and has become one of the country’s most iconic sports and entertainment venues.  Whilst most well-known as the home of the Welsh Rugby Union team, the stadium also hosts some Wales football internationals, as well as a number of other sporting events and a season of big-name music events.

Similar to WNST, the MSCT derives it funding from the Millennium Stadium PLC, through a levy on ticket sales.  This produces an annual income of around £300,000 which it distributes in grants to charities around Wales, working across a wide range of activities including sport, the arts and environmental work, as well as more general community projects; all looking to increase the quality of life for people living throughout the Principality.  Additionally, MSCT recently received an additional payment reflecting the additional income generated by the very successful 2015 Rugby World Cup, for which the Principality Stadium hosted a number of fixtures.  This windfall will be used to create a sporting legacy in Wales through grants for capital works and equipment to enable community sports clubs to offer a better level of service.

Stewart said “It is excellent to see another of the country’s great sporting venues supporting community and grassroots activities – very much on the lines of what we are doing at Wembley Stadium.  Financial support of this kind create a real bond between the high profile venue and what is going on within local neighbourhoods.  We know from our grants programmes, how even a relatively small injection of cash can have a profound impact on a community club’s ability to deliver high-quality activities.

“This new connection with the Millennium Stadium Charitable Trust builds on the link we already have with the charitable work of the Wimbledon Foundation, based at the All England Lawn Tennis Club.  Whilst the work that we each do reflects our own interests and geography, there are clear similarities in the way that these landmark sporting venues are supporting their local communities.  Hopefully, we can build further partnerships of this kind in the future.”

To find out more visit:

www.millenniumstadiumtrust.org.uk

www.wimbledon.com/foundation