The pitch was designed through extensive community consultation, with the aim of being a space for the entire community rather than for sole use by the club and its teams.
Aimed at addressing the “chronic shortage of all-weather sports facilities in Barry”, the site would support grassroots rugby and football teams alongside local schools, women’s and girls’ sport, disability and inclusive sport, and the wider community. The site would be available for all these groups to use year-round.
Speaking in January, Daniel Maggs, head of partnerships at Barry RFC, said: “This is about meeting a very real local need.
“We regularly hear from schools, clubs and community groups who simply can’t access suitable facilities in Barry, especially during the winter.
“A 3G pitch would transform participation, inclusion and consistency for sport across the town.”
Alongside this community initiative for sports teams across the town, they are also looking to transform the club into a space for the entire community.
The project aims to redevelop their clubhouse into a modern, inclusive community space that supports youth activity, health and wellbeing programmes, and wider community use.
A survey recently launched by the team to gauge the community’s feelings on the project and their needs has so far amassed more than 200 responses, with 98 per cent supporting the project overall.
84 per cent said that Barry “needs” hubs like the one the clubhouse would become, and 69 per cent said that they would use these facilities weekly or more.
A representative for the club said: “We’ve had a great response so far, with over 230 people taking part, and the message is clear – this is about more than rugby, it’s about creating a proper community hub for Barry.
“We’re already supporting things like the Warm Hub and local wellbeing groups, but the current clubhouse is at capacity.
“This project is about creating a modern, inclusive space that supports the community all year round, and the survey is key to helping us make that case for funding.”
Barry RFC is encouraging as many residents as possible to have their say by filling in the online survey, as this will directly support any upcoming funding applications to turn the project into reality.
