Some of the most promising Erewash sports stars have been presented with a welcome cash boost to help them develop their sporting careers.
The 13 young athletes have each received a bursary from the Derbyshire Talented Athlete Fund to help them with training, travel and equipment costs. The sporting stars all compete for England or Great Britain – or have the potential to do so within 18 months.
Gymnasts Hannah Dulston and Catherine McNicol, ice hockey players Will Weldon, Callum Bowley and Thomas Soar, and horseball competitors Megan Chiarella and Christie Morgan have each been granted a bursary.
Also celebrating receiving a bursary are golfer Nick Newbold, rugby union player Jack Partington and table tennis player Emma Vickers along with jet-skier Anya Colley, bowls player Simon Skelton and fencer Samuel Ward. The young stars all receive a share of a moneypot totalling £4,140.
Erewash Borough Council and Derbyshire County Council are among the organisations that support the Talented Athlete Fund, which is now in its third year.
Councillor Mike Wallis, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Culture and Leisure, and Councillor Carol Hart, Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities (and also Deputy Leader of Erewash Borough Council) met the athletes to congratulate them on receiving the bursaries in a presentation at West Park Leisure Centre, Long Eaton, on Monday (28th).
Councillor Mike Wallis, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Culture and Leisure, said:
“We are proud to give our support to help these dedicated young people achieve their sporting dreams. They are a credit to themselves, their families and, of course, to Erewash and we applaud their commitment, ability and all that they have achieved so far.
“This Council is committed, through initiatives like the Talented Athlete Fund, to support our young sporting stars, who are an inspiration to us all.”
Notes to Editors:
The Derbyshire Talented Athlete Fund was set up thanks to contributions from a number of partners, including local authorities and businesses
In addition to Erewash Borough Council and Derbyshire County Council, other contributors include High Peak Borough Council, Chesterfield Borough Council, Derby City Council, North East Derbyshire District Council, Amber Valley Borough Council, Bolsover District Council, South Derbyshire District Council and Derbyshire Dales District Council.
Rolls-Royce, the University of Derby, Derbyshire County Cricket Club, Lorson International, Derby College and the Electrical Contractors Association have also all shown their support financially for a third year.
Performers from all sports recognised by Sport England are eligible for bursaries, except those already receiving individual lottery awards or TASS funding.
Keith Loring, head of sport and business consultancy Lorson International, and David Joy, Director of Derbyshire Sport, worked with partners to establish the Fund, which is managed by Derbyshire Sport.
Derbyshire Sport is a county sports partnership and provides the strategic lead for sport in Derbyshire. It is a partnership organisation made up of partners working together to improve the lives of the people in Derbyshire through sport and active recreation. Sport England East Midlands is a major funder of Derbyshire Sport.
