24th October 2007
As British sport starts to recover from last weekend’s near misses in Rugby and Formula 1, the Youth Sport Trust is ensuring the next generation of sporting stars get the best possible start to their sporting careers.
The second group of forty ‘Believe to Achieve with Kelly Holmes’ scholars were invited to spend Wednesday in Loughborough finding out what it takes to be the best they can be.
The ‘Believe to Achieve with Kelly’ Scholarship Programme sees Dame Kelly Holmes, the National School Sport Champion and double Olympic gold medallist, chose 80 young people from the sports of athletics, canoeing, cycling, fencing, gymnastics, ice dance, sailing, swimming, triathlon and rowing - including 6 disability athletes from swimming and one for athletics - to receive funding that goes towards the costs of their sport. The athletes also receive support and guidance from the Youth Sport Trust’s Sport Performance team.
Wednesday’s interactive workshop sessions will see the scholars learn how to deal with the media, show them ways of gaining sponsorship and fundraising as well as other sessions designed to assist them on the pathway to becoming the best that they can be. The day also provides the athletes with opportunity to meet fellow scholars and exchange ideas and tips, both within their sport and with likeminded individuals from other sports. The athlete’s parents are also invited along to a morning session on the pleasures and challenges of supporting a talented young person.
Guin Batten, Head of Performance at the Youth Sport Trust, said: “These sessions give the Believe to Achieve scholars an excellent opportunity to come together for a day to learn from professionals in the media and fundraising professions, to meet role models and to share in each others journeys. The pathway of a young talent athlete can be complex and lonely, meeting and sharing experiences helps to give the young athletes both peer support and a broader understanding of the options available to them. It is a great chance to take stock and to learn new skills for the future.”
The scholars will be joined by professional athletes Harry Wiltshire (Triathlon) and Ros Brett (Swimming) attending to give them their own personal hints and tips on what life is really like as an athlete and how to combine sport and education,.
Harry has represented his country at both under 23 and senior international level and won the World Student Games in 2006. He is currently in training with his eyes firmly set on the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
Ros is an experienced swimmer with one Olympic Games, four World Championships, eight European Championships and two Commonwealth Games under her belt as well as holding four British records
For more information on the Believe to Achieve with Kelly scholarship programme please email info@youthsporttrust.org