ADP ATHLETES INVITED TO APPLY FOR SPORTSAID (ENGLAND) 2024-25

We invite athletes on the Athlete Development Programme to apply for SportsAid support for 2024-25

Athletes who have signed up for, and paid the annual subscription for the Athlete Development Programme for the 2024-25 season will be invited to apply for SportsAid awards (previously called the SportsAid Core award) or Backing the Best awards.

The invitation to apply will be emailed to all registered athletes on the ADP, with athletes encouraged to check their email inboxes, especially junk or spam inboxes. Athletes who have signed up for and paid the annual subscription for the ADP but have not received an email by 09:00 on Monday 4th November should contact [email protected].

THE SPORTSAID AWARDS

SportsAid is a charity that aims to support talented young athletes in England. It does this by nominating athletes for awards, which provide access to a variety of resources including webinars, workshops for parents and athletes, and access to resources to support their growth as athletes. In addition to this, there is the possibility of financial support, but this is not guaranteed.

There are two awards that athletes will be able to apply for, an athlete may apply for both, but can only be in receipt of one award. BF has a limited number that it can nominate to SportsAid. For 2024-25, that number is as follows:

SportsAid Awards:
Wheelchair fencers eligible to compete for GBR at World Abilitysport events: 4 athletes
Fencers eligible to compete for GBR at EFC and FIE events: 6 athletes

Backing the Best Awards:
Wheelchair fencers eligible to compete for GBR at World Abilitysport events: 4 athletes
Fencers eligible to compete for GBR at EFC and FIE events: 10 athletes

The differences in each award are detailed below, followed by the eligibility criteria:

SPORTSAID AWARD

The SportsAid Award (previously called the SportsAid Core Award before the 2023-24 season) is funded through charitable donations, and in addition to the support detailed above, athletes have the potential for a financial award of up to £1,000. This is dependent on SportsAid’s ability to raise funding, and means that an athlete may receive all, part or none of that amount. However, they will be able to access the additional support that SportsAid offers, regardless of whether the athlete receives any financial support or not.

BACKING THE BEST AWARD

The Backing the Best Award is designed to provide assistance to the highest potential athletes who, due to financial constraints, may otherwise struggle to compete or train. In addition to the support detailed above, a Backing the Best award will come with financial support of up to £5,000. In order to ensure that support is going to those most in need, in addition to the eligibility criteria laid out below, as in previous years, Backing the Best applications will only be accepted from households that have a gross annual income of less than £55,000. However, with the cost of living having increased, households with incomes higher than this can be considered but will need to provide SportsAid with further information regarding their personal and/or family situation or other specific circumstances. Athletes who attend fee paying schools are not eligible for a Backing the Best Award unless there is evidence of a full bursary and/or scholarship.

WHO SHOULD APPLY?

SportsAid awards are aimed at supporting athletes who have ambitions to compete at the highest level, representing Great Britain at Senior World Championship, Olympic or Paralympic level. With this in mind, an athlete should consider applying for an award if they meet the following criteria –

• Have been competing on the EFC European Cadet Circuit, FIE Junior World Cup Circuit, and World Abilitysport Wheelchair Fencing circuit for the last year.
• Reasonable expectation to be selected for the EFC Cadet or FIE Junior European Championships 2025, or of having achieved the qualification criteria.
• Reasonable expectation to be selected for the FIE Cadet or Junior World Championships 2025, or of having achieved the qualification criteria.
• Reasonable expectation of selection for the EFC U23 European Championships 2025.
• Reasonable expectation of selection for the World Abilitysport Wheelchair Fencing World Championships in September 2025 – Wheelchair Fencing only.

For both of these awards, there are limited places available, this means that should more applications be received than there are spaces available, the following criteria will be used to prioritise athletes for support:

1. Evidence of meeting the qualifying standards for the FIE Junior European or World Championships.
2. Evidence of meeting the qualifying standards for the FIE Cadet European or World Championships.
3. Evidence of meeting the qualifying standards for the World Abilitysport Wheelchair Fencing European or World Championships – Wheelchair Fencing only.
4. Attendance at Athlete Development training camps.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

An athlete is considered eligible for a SportsAid award if they meet the following criteria:

• Be a member of British Fencing’s Athlete Development Programme for the year 2024-25.
• Typically be in some from of structured education or apprenticeship.
• For a SportsAid Award – typically be aged between 12 and 18 years old (or up to 35 years old for Wheelchair Fencing).
• For a Backing the Best Award – priority will be given to athletes aged between 12 and 18 years old (or up to 35 years old for Wheelchair Fencing).
• Have a realistic prospect of meeting one or more of the performance standards set out above.
• Hold a UK passport.
• Represent England as their home nation. Scottish and Welsh athletes should apply for SportsAid Scotland and SportsAid Wales respectively, while Northern Irish athletes should consider applying to the Mary Peters Trust. For more information about these programmes please click here.
• If an athlete is in receipt of a TASS award, they are ineligible for a SportsAid Award but can apply for and be nominated for a Backing the Best Award.
• If an athlete is currently enrolled on the DiSE programme, they can apply for and be nominated for any SportsAid award, provided they meet all other criteria.
• If an athlete is a recipient of UK Sport funding, either individually or through a World Class Programme, they are ineligible for any SportsAid award.

TIMELINE

Friday 1st November 2024 – Applications open for SportsAid and Backing the Best Awards

Thursday 7th November 2024 (at 17:00)  – Deadline for applications

December 2024 – Applicants informed if they are successful or unsuccessful

February/March 2025 – Financial support begins for successful applicants

WHAT ABOUT ATHLETES WHO DO NOT REPRESENT ENGLAND?

Athletes who are not based in or representing England, should look at the athlete funding page of the ADP Zone, which details funding opportunities for athletes across all the Home Nations.

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