British Fencing is now opening applications for athletes wishing to be considered for the 2020 SportsAid Core and Backing the Best funding awards.

SportsAid and Backing the Best provide financial support to athletes who have demonstrated high potential for success at international level. In order to be eligible, athletes must satisfy the criteria set out by SportsAid and Backing the Best, which are as follows –

• Be 18 or younger
• Living in England
• Still in structured education or an apprenticeship

Successful applicants will be expected to attend SportsAid and Backing the Best events aimed at promoting the work of the two charities and increasing their ability to source athlete funding.

The awards for successful applicants will begin somewhere between February and April 2020.

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 –

• Junior British ranking, and performances at international level
• Cadet British ranking (if relevant) and performances at international level
• Attendance at Athlete Development training camps.
• The ability to be a positive role model and ambassador for the sport of fencing, British Fencing and SportsAid/Backing the Best

Applications will be received, and reviewed, by the Athlete Development Team, including the Athlete Development Programme Weapon Leads.

Details of the application process and timescales are below –

SportsAid Core Award

The SportsAid Core Awards are for, approximately, £1,000. Further detail can be found at SportsAid Athlete guidance doc (002). Anyone wishing to apply for a SportsAid Core Award should please complete the application form SportsAid – Athlete Application Form and send it to [email protected], along with a copy of your athlete profile and a short personal statement (no more than 200 words) detailing your understanding of what you believe your responsibilities would be as an ambassador and a role model. Please use the subject title “SportsAid Application – [Athlete name], by 17.00 on Sunday 17^th November.

Backing the Best Award

The Backing the Best Awards are specifically for athletes who, due to financial constraints may otherwise struggle to compete or train. As a result, in addition to the above criteria, Backing the Best applications will only be accepted from households that have a gross annual income of less than £55,000. If you are eligible and wish to apply, please complete the application form Backing the Best – Athlete Application Form and send it to [email protected], along with a copy of your athlete profile and a short personal statement (no more than 200 words) detailing your understanding of what you believe your responsibilities would be as an ambassador and a role model. Please use the subject title “Backing the Best Application – [Athlete name], by 17.00 on Sunday 17^th November.

Timeframes

The timeframes for the application process is below –

Deadline for applications – Sunday 17^th November

Successful applicants informed by British Fencing – Monday 25^th November

Deadline for athletes to complete online profile on SportsAid portal – Monday 2^nd December