Taff Tidy: a world record-breaking project encouraging collective action to clean our waterways

Taff Tidy: a world record-breaking project encouraging collective action to clean our waterways

The Welsh Sports Association (WSA) is proud to support Taff Tidy, a project that aims to encourage collective action and education about the dangers to our water system across Wales.

A world record attempt will take place in Taff Tidy on Friday 21 March 2025 as communities come together to clean up the River Taff.

The WSA encourages everyone within the sport and leisure sector to come together and participate, and take action to combat water pollution, which is increasingly a constant threat to physical activity in our water systems.

Local residents, community groups, schools, organizations and businesses will all be present at various points along the River Taff as Taff Tidy aims to break the world record for the largest river cleanup.

The campaign is the brainchild of Pontypridd-born world champion triathlete Kate Strong, who is working with freshwater expert and Cardiff University academic Dr Numair Masud to raise awareness of the fragility of our water system and take action across Wales to combat river pollution.

Kate attended the WSA Sustainability in Sport Conference in November and passionately discussed the importance of Taff Tidy both now and for the future.

Taff Tidy was born to bring people together to clean a river for an hour and set a new world record, according to Kate.

We know that one cleanup won't change the world, but it will change the way we see our impact in the world and, with our existing projects, empower more people to change their behavior in protecting nature.

Our rivers are vital ecosystems that support diverse wildlife and also support recreational activities such as paddle boarding, kayaking and swimming. Yet the health of the rivers is threatened by residential, agricultural, industrial and other forms of pollution. This in turn not only threatens our homes and sports, it also threatens our livelihoods and health.

Taff Tidy reminds us that we can all play a role in changing this story for the better.

Sign up for Taff Tidy here!

Dr. Masud added:

The amount of available water versus humanity's need for water is out of balance, creating water insecurity in many parts of the world. Developed countries, such as Britain, have greater access to clean water, compared to many developing countries where 17% of the world's population faces extreme water scarcity. This water injustice leads to people drinking contaminated water, putting them at risk of water-borne diseases. Not only this, but water insecurity can also lead to lower levels of food production and industrial production, leading to global shortages.

We want to educate people about water security vulnerability, to ensure people understand its widespread impact globally, not just locally. Climate change is affecting the amount of water available for human use – a real existential threat – so we must all do our part to protect our rivers and waterways.

The project and its construction will aim to educate communities on protecting water security, leaving a lasting legacy that will protect our water system for generations to come.

Our campaign aims to raise awareness and take action about everyday choices that impact water quality, said Kate. Simple changes, such as choosing eco-friendly cleaning products and reducing household water use, can make a big difference, but the biggest impact we can have is supporting changes in the law to make water protection the standard, rather than an option. -in-decision.

A key aim of Taff Tidy is to prepare clubs and organizations for a successful, sustainable future. Kate expects the campaign will deliver a legacy of a community and club blueprint that will be offered to all participating groups.

The blueprint will enable venues, clubs and groups to tackle issues such as social inclusion, biodiversity protection, financial support and risk reduction.

This blueprint will provide a variety of proven actions that members can easily implement. From reducing food waste to sharing supplies, and from flood preparedness to accessing available grants, your club has the resources it needs to continue its sustainable journey, even after the river cleanup the Taff Tidy.

The main event will take place on Friday, March 21, and the WSA is urging the sport's NGBs to take part and encourage their members to do so.

Taff Tidy requires volunteers at each location on the day, with a minimum of one location manager, two witnesses, two timekeepers and one steward per every 50 participants.

Full details of these volunteer roles and location requirements can be found here. All volunteers receive advance access to training, courtesy of Kate herself.

Participants can support Taff Tidy in Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil and Pontypridd, with the possibility of more locations being added.

The WSA is looking forward to taking part in the campaign and cleaning up the River Taff in Cardiff. We hope to see as many of our members there as possible!

Visit Kate's website for more information about the project here.

If you would like to be part of this campaign as a sponsor, view a sponsorship package here and contact the team!

Don't forget to register to participate now!