The funding is thanks to Lambeth Gifted and Talented Programme and the GLL Sport Foundation (GSF), the largest independent athlete support programme in the UK, operated by charitable social enterprise, GLL. The programme works in partnership with sport national governing bodies through the national charity SportsAid to support the next generation of sporting talent.
What will successful applicants receive?
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.
Talented athletes have until 20 February 2016 to apply.
How do I apply or find out more?
To find out further details of the scheme and to apply please go to the GSF website at www.gllsportfoundation.org.
What is the Lambeth Gifted and Talented Programme?
In 2015, 64 Lambeth athletes were supported across 22 sporting disciplines and with over 97% of award recipients receiving no other centralised funding support the programme is focussed on supporting athletes with the right support at the right time along their sporting journey.
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 ambassadors Tom Daley, Dina Asher-Smith, Aled Davies and Lutalo Muhammad.
The programme is equally focussed on athletes that are aiming for the 2020 and 2024 Games and with 66% of award recipients being aged under 21 the focus is on the next generation of sporting talent. Team GB fencer and Lambeth resident Aml Alexander Sinclair aged 18 explains the impact the programme has made to his journey “the support from GLL funding will help provide the opportunities that assist my fencing development as I work towards my end goal of competing at a senior world class level.”
Sally Gunnell OBE, GSF Patron and former concurrent Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth 400m hurdles title holder explains, “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”.
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.
