51 READING BASED ATHLETES GIVEN GRANTS

MORE THAN 50 athletes from across Reading will be given a helping hand with their training, with some hoping to compete in this year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games.

GLL, which runs leisure centres in the town on behalf of Reading Borough Council, made grants from its Sports Foundation.

Reading sports heroes who will benefit from the awards this year include: Rowers, Rowan McKellar, Vwaire Obukohwo, Jenny Bates, Kyra Edwards, George Bourne.

As well as Athletic’s Oloruntobi Ayorinde and Jordanna Morrish, and Judo’s Hannah Niven.

A total of 15 different sports are represented by Reading’s GSF 51 athletes.

Over the past 16 years, it has made 28,146 grants worth £15.4 million, and across 117 different sports.

Now, it has added to that with a £1.3 million fund comprising of bursaries, training and access memberships, physiotherapy, among others.

It includes a new partnership with athlete wellbeing support group Switch The Play Foundation (STPF).

This initiative will help a diverse range of athletes receive a full balance of support in an often challenging environment.

GLL said its research showed that many talented athletes struggle to realise their dreams of sporting glory due to rising costs of equipment, training, physiotherapy, travel and nutrition.

For them, a GSF Award can be the lifeline to staying in training and meeting their potential.

The majority of GSF athletes are under 21 and 87% receive no other form of funding.

GLL promotes healthy and active lifestyles, giving communities access to facilities that help improve their health and happiness through participation in leisure and cultural activities.

It operates over 240 leisure centres, 120 libraries and 15 children’s centres in partnership with 58 local councils and institutions.

GSF Patron Sally Gunnell OBE said: “Young athletes need the support of organisations like the GLL Sport Foundation to follow their dreams and achieve their ambitious goals in competitive sport.

“GSF provides a lifeline to those struggling with the cost of living and can make a real difference – keeping them in training and helping realise their full potential.”

And Craig Woodward, Reading’s Partnership Manager of GLL, said the foundation was a key part of the company’s remit to widen its social impact, and offer unique opportunities to talented young athletes and build a legacy through sport.

“We wish Reading’s GSF award holders the very best of luck with their training and in competition this year,” he said.