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

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 for the year 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 six leisure facilities, including the Newbold Comyn and St Nicholas Park Leisure Centres in partnership with Warwick District Council, as well as the Hatton Country World Swimming Pool, 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 excited plans for the future of the scheme and I would encourage any athletes from the area who are looking not just for funding but also mentoring for their future sports career to apply for Everyone Active’s Sporting Champions scheme.”

Warwick District Council’s Commonwealth Games Project Manager and Gold Medallist, Christina Boxer commented: “Schemes like this are invaluable for athletes trying to reach the very top of their sport as it supports them physically, by offering access to a wide range of excellent facilities to train in, and psychologically through experienced mentoring and feeling valued within their local community.”

Applicants should visit Everyone Active sporting champions and fill out the online application form. The online application form will be open from Monday 21 January to Friday 22 February.

More information about Everyone Active’s Sporting Champions scheme