Charitable Social Enterprise GLL have announced 2,256 athletes will benefit from the 2024 intake of its Sport Foundation – the largest independent athlete award programme in the UK.

A £1.295m fund comprised of financial bursaries, training and access memberships, physiotherapy and more will support talented athletes with the cost of preparing for and participating in national and international competition – including the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Over 16 years, the GLL Sport Foundation (GSF) has continued to be at the forefront of developing local young athletic talent with an impressive 28,146 awards totalling £15.386m having been made since 2008 across 117 different sports.

Always striving to expand the range of support for athletes, last year’s development of the GSF programme offered - for the first time - athlete wellbeing support through a new partnership with Switch The Play Foundation (STPF). This initiative will help a diverse range of athletes receive a full balance of support in an often challenging environment.

Award holders and ambassadors include Tom Daley and Ellie Simmons. Current ambassadors include Daryll Neita, Joe Clarke, Tully Kearney and Kimberley Woods.

GSF Patron Sally Gunnell OBE said: “Young athletes need the support of organisations like the GLL Sport Foundation to follow their dreams and achieve their ambitious goals in competitive sport.

“GSF provides a lifeline to those struggling with the cost of living and can make a real difference - keeping them in training and helping realise their full potential.”

GSF Chair and GLL CEO Peter Bundey said: “GLL is a unique organisation that over 31 years has expanded its public service offer, bringing measurable benefit to local communities.

“Our GLL Sport Foundation is a key part of our remit to widen and deepen our social impact by offering unique opportunities to talented young athletes and build a legacy through sport.

“All of this is only possible through the close relationships enjoyed with our national sport partners, council clients, suppliers and sponsors and I want to take this opportunity to thank them for their valued contribution with the 2024/25 GSF Awards.

“We look forward to sharing the success of our talented athletes with them in the year ahead.”

GLL’s research shows that many talented athletes struggle to realise their dreams of sporting glory due to rising costs of equipment, training, physiotherapy, travel and nutrition. For them, a GSF Award can be the lifeline to staying in training and meeting their potential.

The majority of GSF athletes are under 21 and 87% receive no other form of funding.

Alistair Mackinnon of GSF headline sponsors Speedo said: “Speedo is delighted to renew its sponsorship of the GLL Sport Foundation.

“The GLL Sport Foundation’s ethos is very much aligned to our wish to see opportunities through sport and fitness spread and meets our wider social responsibilities to our customers, staff and communities.”

“I’d like to extend our best wishes to the young athletes who are part of the GSF Awards Programme this year and wish them the very best of luck with their training and in competition.”

 

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