Training grants available for young athletes in the Mid Sussex area
Freedomleisure, which manages the leisure centres in Mid Sussex, in partnership with GLL, is delighted to announce that applications are open for financial grants and free access to sports facilities to reduce the financial burden of training and competition on young athletes. Grants of up to £1,750 per successful applicant will be made by GLL Sport Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation funded by GLL and partners to help young sports people achieve their sporting ambitions.
Applications can be made online at www.gllsportfoundation.org until 1 March 2010 and are open to talented young sports people living and training within the locality of the Freedom Leisure Centres in Burgess Hill, Haywards Heath or East Grinstead. All successful applicants will be given free access by Freedom Leisure for 12 months to training facilities, a huge financial boost for many. Others will also be given cash grants to assist with specific training need including equipment, travel and accommodation.
Despite being recognised as talented sports people, most young athletes have very limited access to funding opportunities and many are unable to meet the rising costs of competition and training as regional and national demands are placed on them. The scheme aims to assist these potential future medal winners to achieve their full sporting potential and to promote the positive influence that successful young athletes can have on other young people within local communities. The Foundation aims to give over £1.5 m to young athletes to young athletes in selected areas of London and the South East in the run up to 2010.
Foundation Patron, Sally Gunnell, OBE, commented: “From my personal experience as a young athlete, I know how essential this kind of support can be to the realisation of sporting ambitions. I am delighted therefore to be the Patron of the GLL Sport Foundation which is set to help up to 800 young athletes a year.”
“This is an exciting initiative and represents a fantastic opportunity for talented Mid Sussex youngsters to make the most of their athletic ability,” said Councillor Garry Wall, Leader of Mid Sussex District Council. “I’m proud that our leisure centres are helping local young sports men and women to continue training and who knows, we may help to develop one of the stars of the future.”
For further information about leisure and sporting activities available at Freedom Leisure centres please visit www.freedom-leisure.co.uk
Release date 02/02/10