£30,000 boost for community sports stars

Rising sports stars from South Norfolk are being invited to apply for a share of £30,000 with the launch of this year’s Community Sport Achiever Award.

The award celebrates the hard work and dedication of local youngsters fighting for sporting succeess and helps cover the cost of competing, equipment, training and coaching qualifications.

Anyone under 18 (or under 25 for a disability award), living in South Norfolk and taking part in competitive sport at county level or above can apply.

Councillor Michelle Monck, South Norfolk Council cabinet Member for Tourism, heritage, Enterprise, Culture and Customer Focus said:

“Anyone who gets a chance to meet these dedicated youngsters face to face knows what a huge difference this makes to their lives. This is the difference between a talent lost and a potential future gold medal.

“This year, in the drive to support our young Olympic hopefuls, we are also introducing a Young Ambassador Award for under 25s.

“Awards of up to £1500 will be made to talented athletes currently being coached as part of the National Governing Body, Olympic training programme.”

One athlete who could benefit from this new award is swimmer Bethany Coggins, who has qualified for the Community Achiever Award for the past two years.

While competing, she caught the eye of the Director of World Class Programmes for British Swimming, John Atkinson, and has now been selected for the target 2012 Olympic squad.

This year she will be able to benefit from the Young Ambassador Award, which will hopefully help bring her ever closer to Olympic success.

Olympic Archer Tom Barber has also benefited from the Community Sport Achiever Award for two years running and will now qualify for the new award.

He flew out to Beijing as part of the Great British Olympic Squad as reserve archer. Unfortunately, he did not get the chance to compete this year, but it has given him some fantastic experience in preparation for 2012.

Successful applicants will be expected to act as role models within the community and will use their talents to inspire other young people through voluntary coaching and appearances at local events.

Applications must be in by the 26 January 2009 and accompanied by a letter of support from the local governing body.

Winners will be announced in March when an award ceremony will take place at Long Stratton Leisure Centre.

The council-run Centre, which is currently being redeveloped, will be transformed for the evening and a mystery sports star will be on-hand to give out the awards.

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