Grants totalling £50,000 have been awarded to 102 Nottinghamshire athletes and para-athletes to help fulfil their sporting ambitions.
The Talented Athletes Fund is part of Nottinghamshire County Council’s Local Communities Fund which offers financial help and support to local communities.
This year the funding pot remains at £50,000 to help more up-and-coming athletes recognise and realise their potential in their chosen sport.
It is particularly geared towards those competing in disability/parasports who may require expensive adapted equipment, clothing, or have higher transport costs.
Individuals who represented their country at national events in the last 24 months, which include a range of Sport England-recognised sports, were able to claim up to £1,000.
Southwell and England Athletics hurdler Zoe Smith, 16 is among the latest recipients. She said, ''I am so grateful that Nottinghamshire County Council recognised my potential and supported me through the Talented Athlete Fund.
“These latest funds will enable me to purchase training and competition kit as well as allowing me to pay for the essential strength and conditioning training plus physiotherapy. I set out to achieve an international vest and the funding has certainly helped me achieve this.''
Zoe's parent and coach, Kevin Smith said, ''The Talented Athletes Fund provides a wonderful opportunity for young aspiring sports people to fund additional costs of their training.
“No sport is cheap and requires a whole host of elements from top quality kit and facilities but equally if not more importantly the best quality of support services in conditioning and rehab available.
“Zoe's success is in part down to the funding provided for which we are most grateful.''
Bingham swimmer Lewis Warner, 18, also received a grant. He said, “This money will allow me to train to a higher standard, enter more competitions, cover travel costs and coaching fees."
Another sportsperson to benefit is Noah Webb, 17, from Mansfield.
Noah recently completed in the ICO world championship kickboxing competition in Hull, winning a bronze and two silver medals.
Now one of the top performers in his field, he said, “I am extremely grateful for the support and the funding from Nottinghamshire County Council. It is helping me buy essential new equipment and pay towards the costs of travelling up and down the country to compete.”
Noah's parent and coach Roger Webb said, “This funding is appreciated and has enabled us to be able to continue to support Noah through his kick boxing journey. It has helped us travel the world to compete and pay for additional fight categories, which have developed his skills and confidence.”
Successful applications included representation from all Nottinghamshire districts covering 26 different sport disciplines. More than 40 applications were received from athletes aged 15 or under with 16 applications from athletes competing in a para / disability / adaptive sport.
Scott Carlton, the council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Public Health said:
“We have been keen to try and help as many of the county's talented sports people as possible, as this is incredibly important to the County Council.
“Coaching and related costs are rising, making training and competing in performance sport very challenging.
“The road to realising potential is never easy and I commend these aspiring Nottinghamshire sports people for their devotion to strive for their dreams.”
“We would love to hear from any of this year’s successful applicants.
“If you create a video and upload it to your social media, please make sure you tag us in it.
“Who knows? with the summer Olympics approaching, we could have a budding future Olympian among this year’s pool of Talented Athletes.”
Kerryn Chamberlin, Strategic Director of Active Notts, said: “The grants can really help overcome some of the financial challenges that competitive sport creates for people, such as travel expenses, equipment, coaching fees or even gym memberships.
“For our local athletes, this opportunity might support their path towards competing at the Olympics, Paralympics, or Special Olympics.”
