Funding now available for Staffordshire’s young sports stars
Young athletes from across Staffordshire are being invited to apply for funding from the Staffordshire Talented Athlete Fund.
The Staffordshire County Council scheme has been set up to support some of the county’s most promising young sports people and offers grants of up to £750 to help meet the costs associated with training and competition.
Awards are made to young people in three categories, Gold, Silver and Bronze, in selected sports to reflect the range of talent in the County. There is £14k available this year which will go towards supporting over 20 young athletes.
Ben Adams, Cabinet Member for Learning and Skills at Staffordshire County Council said: “With the 2016 Olympics in Rio later this summer we’re sure to see a huge boost in sports activities giving young people a great incentive to be the best they can.
“We have huge young sporting talent here in Staffordshire, not to mention our very own world record breaking swimmer Adam Peaty from Uttoxeter who’s tipped for Olympic success this year.
“We want to be able to support some of our young rising sporting stars and the Staffordshire Talented Athletes Fund is helping us do that. I would encourage people to get their applications in before 20 March 2016.”
Adam Peaty, who is encouraging young people to apply for the grant said: “Being a sportsperson is a real privilege but does take a lot of hard work and can be expensive for young people starting off. The Staffordshire Talented Athletes Fund sounds like a good helping hand for the county’s upcoming sports stars, so I would encourage people to apply. You never know where it will lead to and it could help get you closer to realising your sporting goals.”
Ben added: “We are also keen to develop Staffordshire as a top sports destination and we will once again be holding the international Staffordshire IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon which last year attracted more than 2,000 athletes to the county along with thousands of spectators”
The fund is looking for applications from athletes who are committed, driven and proud to represent Staffordshire. Applicants must either live or go to school in Staffordshire and have a date of birth that falls between 1st September 1995 and 31st August 2004.
Athletes with a disability must have a date of birth that falls between 1st September 1988 and 31st August 2004.
The scheme is being delivered in partnership with “Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent”. For full details on the fund or to download an application form and guidance notes please visit www.sportacrossstaffordshire.co.uk. The closing date for applications is 20th March 2016.