Wiltshire Council in partnership with businesses is once again offering grants to fund young athletes in their quest for success.
Over the past five years, 34 potential champions in the county have benefited from funding, and the hunt is now on to find more sporting stars of the future.
With funds raised with the support of local businesses, Sports Scholarship grants of £500 are available for Wiltshire athletes aged between eight and 18 who are competing at regional or national level. Funding can be used on equipment, coaching or on any other costs linked to their sport.
Lucy-Jane Matthews, a track athlete from Salisbury, and Trowbridge canoeist Edward Nightingale, were among 12 young people who were awarded scholarships in January this year. Lucy-Jane said, “The grant helped me achieve a dream of representing my country at the European Youth Championships. Knowing I have this support back home has meant so much and it is helping me focus on my ultimate goal of representing GB at the Olympics.”
Edward said, “The grant allowed me to buy the equipment I needed to focus on my season, which included winning selection for the Olympic Hopes regatta in Poland. This support has been vital for me to develop in my sport to achieve my ambitions.”
Previous grant winners have included Trowbridge high-jumper Tom Gale and cyclist Peter Kibble, from Calne, who competed in the Commonwealth Games in Australia this year.
The funds are raised with the support of local businesses so that we can offer help to the county’s future sports stars.
The full guidelines and application form are available at http://www.wiltshire .gov.uk/leisure-supporting-athletes
Deadline for applications is 5pm, 5th November 2018.
