Jersey Sport will invest £1 million into local sport in 2026, marking the largest single-year funding commitment in the organisation’s history and a significant milestone for sport in Jersey.
The record investment reflects rapid progress over the past two years, with funding rising from £300,000 in 2024 to almost £800,000 in 2025, before reaching the £1 million mark in 2026. It represents a step-change in the scale of support available to clubs, athletes and community sport across the island.
The impact of increased funding is already being recognised across local sport. At Jersey Sport’s recent Celebration of Sport event, organisations and athletes shared clear examples of how investment is strengthening foundations, unlocking opportunity and supporting long-term growth.
For Skateboard Jersey, funding in 2025 has helped the charity build stability during a period of uncertainty. Phil Minty, Chair of Skateboard Jersey, said: “The funding we received from Jersey Sport in 2025 has helped us to build sustainability. We’ve been able to formally employ an Operations Manager and sessional coaches to meet the growth and demand of our sport.
“This has allowed us to have more of a presence at the skatepark, supporting more young people to challenge themselves while learning an exciting and demanding activity. We were also able to support talented riders to access competition off-island, while upskilling local coaches through essential qualifications and specialist training including bringing a world-ranked bowl specialist to Jersey.
“We’re now confident in our ability to deliver services to a wide range of islanders and excited to see what 2026 brings with Jersey Sport’s support.”
Island athletes are also seeing tangible benefits from increased investment. Rory Le Masurier, a Jersey Sport Performance Sport Programme athlete, said the support he received this year had a direct impact on his results: “The Performance Sport Programme has had a huge impact on my performance this year. It’s enabled me to attend international tournaments and gain experience against European players, as well as compete more in England and attend a training camp in Denmark. This has really improved my game.
“I’ve won quite a few tournaments this year and increased my English ranking. The strength and conditioning sessions I’ve had have been great and have really helped with my movement around the court.
“My Jersey badminton coaches have been incredibly supportive. They’ve been flexible with extra sessions and weekend training, and they’ve encouraged me as I’ve started to compete nationally.”
These experiences highlight the broader value of investment in sport. Beyond participation and performance, sport in Jersey supports lifelong wellbeing – promoting healthier lifestyles, personal development and social connection at every stage of life. It helps build stronger communities, reduces pressure on health and care services, and contributes to a more productive, resilient island.
David Kennedy (main picture), CEO of Jersey Sport, said the organisation has worked hard to ensure funding is aligned with the real needs of local sport: “Over the last two years we’ve realigned our services, programmes and budgets to better meet the needs of local sport through access to professional support, resources and funding.
“Distributing £1 million in 2026 is not just a milestone, it’s a statement of what’s possible when passion and perseverance come together. For the past two years, funding in sport has been our number one priority, and reaching this point reflects the incredible commitment of our team and our generous funders. I have always said that we will be judged by the impact we make, not the intentions we have. This investment gives sports a powerful platform to grow, and we look forward to working with partners to ensure this momentum is sustained for years to come.”
