(SOURCE: GLL)

£1 MILLION FUNDING POT IS SET TO SUPPORT NEXT GENERATION OF TALENTED FENCERS

Applications are now open for talented young fencers from across the UK to apply for a share of a £1million funding pot to help young sporting stars realise their dreams.  Talented athletes have until 20th February 2015 to apply for financial awards of up to £1,250.

The funding is thanks to the GLL Sport Foundation (GSF), the largest independent athlete support programme in the UK, operated by charitable social enterprise, GLL.  With 76% of awards given to athletes under the age of 21, the programme works in partnership with British Fencing through the national charity SportsAid to support the next generation of sporting talent. 

In 2014, the GSF supported 1500 athletes including 43 fencers.  These athletes included James-Andrew Davis who made history by becoming the first British fencer to be crowned European Foil Champion, in 2014. Speaking about the fund, he said; “The GLL Sport Foundation supports my goal to achieve further international success”.

Another supported athlete is Yasmin Campbell.  Yasmin is a junior Great Britain fencer who has achieved great feats in 2014 being crowned U14 National Champion and is also the silver medallist from the Manchester Cadet Championships.  She added; “The support of the GLL Sport Foundation helps me to achieve my goals of competing at the top 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”. 

The GSF was launched in 2008 by Sally at the House of Commons.  Since then, the programme has provided over 6500 athlete awards across 95 Olympic, Paralympic, Deaflympic and Special Olympic sports with support worth over £3.8million.  A massive 90% of award recipients receive no other funding support, yet research by SportsAid shows their average annual expenditure is more than £6,000.

GSF Chairman, Peter Bundey states; “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 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 addsed; “Working with the GLL Sport Foundation enables us to help more young athletes and ensure the right people are funded at the right time”.

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 apply and find out further details of the scheme please go to the GSF website at www.gllsportfoundation.org.  Applications for 2015 awards are open until 20th February 2015.

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 140 sport and leisure venues managed by GLL and partners across the UK.