Para-swimmer, George Kelman-Johns will be making a big difference to his local community thanks to Allwyn’s ChangeMakers initiative.
George Kelman-Johns, who will be driving social impact in Dorchester after receiving funding from the new operator of The National Lottery, said: “I’m really proud and excited to have been chosen as part of the ChangeMakers initiative as it’s such a brilliant opportunity to grow something I really believe in.
“I started ‘Swim 4 All’ because I’ve seen firsthand how swimming can boost both physical and mental wellbeing, but I also know that access isn’t equal for everyone.
“This funding means we can keep breaking down barriers and give more people, especially from ethnically diverse communities, the chance to feel confident and included in the water.
“I’m so grateful to Allwyn, UK Sport and ParalympicsGB for supporting this vision and helping us reach even more people in the community.”
Kelman-Johns will be using the grant to develop the ‘Swim 4 All’ programme, a learn to swim and wellbeing programme founded by Kelman-Johns, aiming to provide equal opportunities by creating a positive environment for people of all backgrounds - particularly those within ethnically diverse communities.
They will join fifteen current and former National Lottery funded athletes to receive grants of up to £10,000 to support their activity across a range of causes from the improvement of health and wellbeing, supporting equality, diversity, and inclusion to driving environmental sustainability.
ChangeMakers is a partnership between Allwyn, UK Sport, Team GB and ParalympicsGB launched in 2024 as part of Allwyn’s commitment to having a positive social impact which sees the National Lottery operator commit £1M annually to its Social Value Fund.
The grants are the next step in the ChangeMaker initiative which is made of three elements to enable and empower athletes to deliver social impact for the causes and communities which are important to them.
Firstly, after the Paris Olympics and Paralympics more than 130 athletes committed to go back into communities across the country to support grassroots projects they are passionate about.
The second element – enables athletes to apply for grants to support their personal projects – with the successful recipients being launched today with the third strand being a special Changemaker ‘Powered By Purpose’ cohort.
This is a UK Sport programme which provides athletes with the skills, knowledge and confidence to turn success on the field of play into long-term positive impact for communities.
Andria Vidler, CEO of National Lottery Operator, Allwyn, added: “The ChangeMaker grants from Allwyn’s Social Value Fund will enable these inspiring athletes to make a real difference to the causes and communities which matter most to them.
“Their passion extends beyond sport and I am proud that through Allwyn’s commitment to having a positive social impact, we can support to them to take the next step.
“These grants represent our belief that athletes can be powerful catalysts for change both on and off the field of play.”
Sally Munday, CEO of UK Sport, said: “The National Lottery continues to be the biggest champion of sport at all levels in the UK, and it’s wonderful to see Allwyn, as operator of The National Lottery, enabling our athletes to go even further and use their voice and platforms to power positive change for people, communities and the planet.”
The grants are split into two types; a ‘Try It’ fund which helps athletes who have a social impact idea and want to test its viability and impact, and a ‘Scale It’ fund, to support athletes who have a pre-existing social impact initiative that requires more support to take it the next level.
For further information ChangeMaker grant visit the UK Sport website.