Talented young swimmers are being urged to apply for a share of a £1 million funding pot set up to help young athletes realise their dreams.
Talented athletes have until 20th February to apply for financial awards of up to £1,250 and is thanks to the GLL Sport Foundation (GSF), the largest independent athlete support programme in the UK and operated by charitable social enterprise GLL. The programme works in partnership with British Swimming and the national charity SportsAid to support the next generation of sporting talent. In 2015 GSF supported 182 swimmers across the sporting disciplines.
With the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games just around the corner, the programme is supporting athletes that will look to compete at these games including ambassador Aimee Willmott.
Aimee explains the impact the programme has made to her journey: “The award has enabled me to fund a specialist gym coach to write and supervise my gym sessions. This has allowed me to develop my strength and development further in order to reach my ultimate goal. The next 18 months will require all my focus and dedication to ensure I reach my goal and this award gives me the best preparation to do so”.
The programme is equally focussed on athletes that are aiming for the 2020 and 2024 Games and with 84% of award recipients being aged under 21 the focus is on the next generation of sporting talent.
Sally Gunnell OBE, GSF Patron and former concurrent Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth 400m hurdles title holder said: “From my own experience, starting out as a young athlete and progressing through my sport, I understand how important support from the Foundation is to the realisation of sporting ambitions. Through the programme we are providing the next generation of athletes with tangible support to make a real difference to their sporting journeys”.
GSF Chairman, Peter Bundey said: "It is crucial that we support the talent and enthusiasm of our young sporting stars. We can help young athletes bridge the difficult leap from regional to national and international level as they start to become ready for senior competition.
“We are delighted to continue to work in partnership with SportsAid who provide vital links between us and national governing bodies of sport. Working with SportsAid ensures that our funding becomes part of the national talent development programmes, which is important for all sports and young sporting talent”.
SportsAid’s Chief Executive Tim Lawler added: "Working with the GLL Sport Foundation enables us to help more young athletes and ensure the right people are funded at the right time”.
The GSF was launched in 2008 by Sally Gunnell at the House of Commons. Since then, the programme has provided over 8700 athlete awards with support worth over £4.9million.
To be eligible for a grant, young sportsmen and women must live or be in education in a partnership where GLL or its partners operate; or be affiliated to a sports club that has a training base at a GLL or partner operated sport and leisure venue.
To find out further details of the scheme and apply please go to the GSF website at www.gllsportfoundation.org. Applications for 2016 awards are open until 20th February 2016.
Each of the successful applicants will benefit from financial and or training awards. Financial awards of up to £1,250 will support athletes associated travel, competition and equipment costings during the next 12 months. Recipients will also benefit from sports performance support and training awards that allow free sporting access to more than 200 sport and leisure venues managed by GLL and partners across the UK.