Rising sports stars encouraged to apply to unique sponsorship scheme

Up-and-coming athletes in Stratford-on-Avon District are being given the opportunity to receive funding from a local leisure provider as part of its athletes mentoring scheme.

Everyone Active is urging aspiring sports stars to apply for funding and support as part of its Everyone Active Sporting Champions scheme.

An online application form will be open from Monday 21 January to Friday 22 February.

The scheme, which is entering its fourth year, has helped over 800 local athletes to achieve their sporting potential by offering them access to high-quality training facilities, financial support and expert advice.

All athletes are provided with free access to Everyone Active's centres across the country, and those on the higher tiers of the programme can also receive a sponsorship grant of up to £5,000 to help towards their training and competition costs.

Athletes on the scheme are also given exclusive opportunities to join mentoring sessions led by some of Britain's most influential sports stars including Olympic silver medallist Colin Jackson CBE. In 2018, the scheme hosted two sessions across the country which not only included talks from industry experts but Olympic and Paralympic athletes were also on hand to share their experiences with upcoming athletes.  

Last year, the scheme launched its first Awards Ceremony to recognise athletes' achievements throughout the year. A total of nine awards were given to athletes across regional and national categories including the Sporting Champion of the Year.

Everyone Active operates the Stratford, Studley, Shipston and Southam Leisure Centres on behalf of Stratford-on-Avon District Council, and is encouraging local athletes to apply for the scheme.

Jon Senior, Everyone Active's regional director, said: "We are proud to have invested over £500,000 in helping upcoming athletes up and down the country to achieve their goals and continue in their sporting career.

"We have exciting plans for the future of the scheme and I would encourage any athletes from Stratford-on-Avon that are looking not just for funding but also mentoring for their future sports career to apply for Everyone Active's Sporting Champions scheme."

Councillor Mike Brain, Services for the Community Portfolio at Stratford-on-Avon District Council, says: "The District Council is pleased to be working with our partners at Everyone Active to offer this package to up-and-coming athletes in the district of Stratford-on-Avon.   

"It is wonderful to be able to support local athletes by offering greater opportunities to improve in their respective sports. Sport plays such a vital role in our community, helping people to develop skills and encouraging a healthy, active lifestyle at all levels. We look forward to following the sporting careers of our district's athletes."

Applicants should visit www.easportingchampions.com/apply-now/ and fill out the online application form.

For more information about Everyone Active's Sporting Champions scheme please visit www.easportingchampions.com

Successful athletes will be rewarded based on their current level of success with either bronze sponsorship (free access to Everyone Active centres and use of all facilities), silver sponsorship (free access to Everyone Active centres, plus a sponsorship fee of between £200 and £1,000) or gold sponsorship (free access to Everyone Active centres, plus a sponsorship fee of between £1,000 and £5,000).  

Everyone Active is the trading name for Sports Leisure Management Ltd (SLM), which operates leisure facilities in partnership with local councils across England.