Introducing the 2022 Award Winners!

We are so proud and delighted to announce the 2002 Sporting Heritage Award winners who enter our Hall of Fame!

We just wanted to say, that we were overwhelmed by the breadth and depth of applications for the awards from across the four nations of the UK! We wish we could have made everyone winners as the activity is making such an amazing difference within communities!

So here they are – the 2022 winners!

Celebrating Sporting Heritage Diversity Award

Winner: Women in Rugby League

For the first time in history, ‘Women in Rugby League’ is creating a platform to educate young women and girls about the diverse female role models who pioneered Rugby League, enabling them to gain new skills and motivational experiences.

Recognising Sporting Heritage Volunteers Award – Joint winners! 

Winners: CC4 Museum of Welsh Cricket

The volunteers have completely transformed the online presence of the museum from a listing of key dates and individuals, supported by a small number of images to a wider range of stimulating narrative with blogs, podcasts tweets and social media postings. Overall, their actions mean that the heritage of cricket in Wales is now in a much improved and stronger position, with the sharing, preservation and protection of information about the first team game in Wales for current and future generations to enjoy and celebrate.

Recognising Sporting Heritage Volunteers Award – Joint winners! 

Winners: Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club

The heritage volunteers at Trent Bridge make a significant contribution and a huge difference to the work of NCCC and the visitor experience at Trent Bridge. Their range of skills and knowledge is invaluable, and the team includes former librarians, journalists and historians; professional in their attitude and their approach to work, their skills and commitment help to deliver high quality heritage activity to visitors and online audiences.  During the Covid-19 pandemic many of the volunteers continued their work on a variety of heritage activities from home, including the unique ‘Cricket & Covid’ project and the creation of a large amount of website content.

Sporting Heritage Research Award

Winner: Dr Fiona Skillen, Glasgow Caledonian University

For many years Dr. Skillen has championed women’s sports history and sporting heritage in Scotland. Fiona works with many different types of organisations and uses her research expertise to underpin public engagement through exhibitions, education, media work, and talks. In particular, Fiona’s exhibition, co-curated with Steve Bolton, at SFM on the Rutherglen Ladies F.C has re-written the history of women’s football in Scotland. Collectively, the work of Dr. Skillen is shaping understanding of women’s place in sporting history in Scotland.

Schools Sporting Heritage Award

Winners: National Football Museum in partnership with EveryColour and St Winifred’s CofE School

The museum has worked with the peer education initiative Everycolour on several projects. Whether focussing on the 2016 Men’s Euros, 2018 Men’s World Cup, 2019 Women’s World Cup or the impact of Black Lives Matter in Football, each project has had the message of equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart. Everycolour have worked with several primary schools in South Manchester to increase awareness of social issues in football and use football as the inspiration to discuss the value of diversity and equality.

Community Sporting Heritage Award

Winners: Byrne Avenue Baths, Birkenhead

Byrne Avenue Trust has saved a 1930s heritage swimming pool building from disappearing into history. By the Trust successfully applying for and being granted grade II listed status, the local council were unable to demolish the Baths and subsequently handed it to the Trust under community asset transfer. Saving and re-opening the Baths makes a great difference to our community. It gives people a local facility which already allows them to take part in sports such as football, netball and badminton. Saving the Baths also preserves the heritage of the local area, allowing parents and grandparents to share memories with the younger generation. Most importantly there is now a wonderful vibrant Sports and Community Centre which celebrates the history and heritage of the past whilst providing activities and events for generations to come.

Museums and Archives Sporting Heritage Award

Winners: Silverstone Interactive Museum

The project has developed a ‘Conservation Management Plan’ for the site, meaning that not only has the only remaining Second World War hangar on the site been lovingly restored to its former glory and now houses the museum, but a wider plan for the circuit has been developed. The British Racing Drivers’ Club archive which was previously housed in an old farmhouse, in less than ideal conditions, is now safe in a state of the art collections and archive store in the museum. The archive is now safe and accessible by researchers and students, as well as the public. The schools’ programme is inspiring young people to look at careers in the sport. While engaging their young minds with engineering activities they can see the real sport from the windows of the learning studios.

Sports Clubs and National Governing Body Sporting Heritage Award

Winners: Watford Museum and Watford Football Club

Many clubs rightly celebrate their heritage, what makes Watford FC so special is the partnerships with the museum, fans and community to do this, and the commitment to safeguarding and sharing social and ignored history that help the club connect and deliver ED and I values that are at the heart of this community club. From using history to bring happiness to people living with dementia, to using ignored heritage to continue to grow community connection and challenge hate and ignorance, the club shows incredible commitment. In making Watford Museum the official collecting museum for Watford FC and Watford FC Women, a unique partnership continues to develop celebrating heritage beyond the club and in the heart of the community.

Sporting Heritage Moment / Event of the Year Award

Winners: National Paralympic Heritage Trust

The Meet the Paralympian project has helped put the NPHT on the map with local schools and increasingly national schools. Related to it is a significant increase in the downloading of learning resources by Schools from figures in the 10s to the 100s every month. Over the past year we shall have reached over 10000 young people and inspired them in their journeys and things that might be thrown in the path that needs overcoming. In addition, it has increased their understanding of disability and got across our message on everyone being born human and equal. This event also will help the NPHT grow and over the next year we shall be seeking sponsorship to support the work going forward therefore contributing to our sustainability.