Help us Build our forever home for Judo in South Wales

For decades, the sound of laughter and the thud of the mat have echoed through the halls of our club. For generations, we’ve been more than just a place to learn judo; we’ve been a second home, a sanctuary, and a family. Our club, The Silverbacks, has always been built on passion, not profit, with every single coach and volunteer giving their time for free to mentor our community's youth.

Then came the pandemic.

Suddenly, the home we had known for 38 years was gone. Our beloved dojo in Bridgend was no longer safe, its lease gone with it. The place where I, like so many others, grew up learning the discipline and respect of judo was now just a memory. It was devastating.

For three long years, we were nomads, moving from one temporary space to another. But even without a permanent home, our spirit never wavered. Our incredible coaches and dedicated families held on, keeping the flame of our club alive. We’ve managed to grow a new, thriving community, proving that our dojo isn't a building—it's the people inside it.

And now, we've found it. Our forever home.

The energy in our new space is electric. In just one month, our membership has nearly doubled, with young children and adults alike eager to join our family. We're ready to start a new legacy, but we have one major problem: we don't have enough mats to keep up with the demand. More mats mean we can welcome more children, more families, and more people from all walks of life.

This is more than a crowdfunding campaign for equipment. It’s a chance to build on the legacy of a club that has nurtured talent to a commonwealth level and has given so much to our community. It’s an opportunity to help us create a space where everyone, from a timid five-year-old to a sixty-five-year-old looking for a new challenge, can find their confidence and their community.

Every donation, big or small, helps us lay down another piece of our future. Please help us give back to the sport that has given us so much.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

The Silverbacks Judo Club