By Shaun Murphy-
Thousands of youths in Britain are in regular training after over 2,000 awards were given to talented athletic youths in the UK this year, including cash awards and membership awards to gyms and training institutions to support the aspirations of various youngsters.
Talented athletes from 65 areas across the UK have received a range of support awards which include financial help, access to sport facilities, physiotherapy, lifestyle mentoring and mental health aid.
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The brilliant initiative which began in May this year and continues until next year, has seen many recipients of the GLC sports foundation awards motivated and training for upcoming competitions.
The innovative scheme is provided by charitable social enterprise GLL and expects to award £1.2m worth of help in 2023 for successful applicants.
There are 260 centres and 50 partnerships, each of which stage their respective awards.
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The award application announcement for 2023 was made at Lee Valley VeloPark, following the commencement of GLL’s newest partnership with Lee Valley Regional Park Authority (LVRPA).
Athletes based at LVRPA’s world class facilities are now able to join the GLL Sport Foundation, including Lee Valley VeloPark (which hosted the Commonwealth Games Track Cycling event in 2022), Lee Valley White Water Centre (hosting the ICF Canoe World Slalom Championships in 2023), Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, Lee Valley Athletics Centre, Lee Valley Riding Centre, and the new £30m Lee Valley Ice Centre (opening in 2023)
The programme supports young emerging talent on their sporting journey, with the majority of athletes aged under the age of 21 and the largest cohort under 18 years old.
Across the programme, 87% of athletes receive no other funding or athlete support, which underlines the importance of the scheme to both athletes and GLL’s social values.
A representative of GLL told The Eye Of Media.Com: ”Several youths are currently training everyday across the UK because there re competitions coming up. At the moment, 2,145 awards have so far been given, and the youths are quite dedicated. People can join from various sports once they demonstrate a talent. They are generally already part of a club”
Eighty-four talented young people from Croydon received awards from the Greenwich Leisure Limited Sports Foundation (GSF) last month to help them along their sporting journey.
The athletes, who compete nationally and internationally received grants of up to £500 to help with access to sport facilities, physiotherapy, lifestyle mentoring and mental health support. They will also be granted free access to sporting venues operated by Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL), the council’s leisure contractor.
Executive Mayor Jason Perry attended the awards alongside Councillor Andy Stranack, Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture.
“Sport has such a positive impact on every aspect of young people’s lives – helping them to stay healthy.
“I was delighted to attend the reception at Ashburton Hall to recognise the young athletes from Croydon, and also acknowledge the support they receive from their parents, guardians and coaches.
“It is inspiring to see the immense contribution and effort these young sports men and women have committed to their respective sports. Through our partnership with GLL we are breaking down barriers and helping them to reach their full potential. It is exciting to see so many young athletes from the borough receive this support and represent the huge sporting talent Croydon has to offer.”
GLL Sports Foundation patron and former Olympic Champion Sally Gunnell explained the core role the foundation takes in supporting the next generation of athletes.
She said: “Sport is such an important element in our lives whether that be as an athlete, a coach or within the wide network of support, sport can and will continue to deliver so much for us. This was seen once again from the euphoria that gripped the nation during the World Athletics Championships last year.”
Peter Bundey, GSF Chair, said: “The wealth of young sporting talent within our local communities is truly inspiring.
”We are delighted to play our part in supporting the development of sporting talent across every region in which GLL operate sports and leisure facilities. We believe that the vast majority of the athletes that benefit from the GLL Sport Foundation will give something back to sport and society in a positive way; whether as a future champion inspiring the nation, sports coach, volunteer, fundraiser or as an inspirational role model to other young people to get active and involved in sport”.
The next awards cycle opens in December 2023.
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