North Kesteven’s aspiring athletes and competitive sportspeople can apply for funding and training support to help them keep their dreams alive.
GLL Sports Foundation – an arm of the not-for-profit charitable firm that runs North Kesteven’s sports facilities under the name ‘Better’ was set up after the company became aware of young talented athletes having to give up on their dreams because of the high costs of training, travel, and competitions. The Foundation is currently open to applications, from now until February 20.
Applicants will be notified in April 2023 the outcome of their application.
Last year, eight sports people from NK received funding and free access to training facilities at the North Hykeham and Sleaford sports centres, which helped them in achieving their goals. This included world ranked Para-cyclist and World Champion Hand cycling Triathlete Liz McTernan.
Liz said the GLL Sport Foundation has helped her through her sporting career: “The sports foundation supports athletes local to Better facilities to access training which supports their achievements in sport. For me personally, I use ONE NK for both swim training and gym twice a week. I’m able to use the pool for recovery sessions and the gym to build fitness to improve in my sport of wheelchair racing. I work part time, so am on a low income and would not be able to afford a monthly fee to access the centre. I predominantly use my upper body for my sport and injury prevention is extremely important to be able to continue in my sport as I age.
“The support of the GLL Sports Foundation is pivotal in providing enhancements to my training as a wheelchair athlete, for both recovery sessions and Strength & Conditioning which is crucial for me to avoid injury. I hope to be able to represent GB on the world stage in the Marathon Majors as a wheelchair racer and am looking forward to racing in the London Marathon in April and gaining a qualifying time for the Boston Marathon in the U.S. The fact that GLL is a charitable social enterprise and supports athletes in the local community is important to me, as it gives me confidence to pursue my goals.”
Cllr Steve Clegg, North Kesteven District Councillor with special Executive Board interest in leisure, said: “We are delighted that through the ongoing contract we entered into with GLL in 2018 to run our leisure centres and community sports outreach, we are able to support aspiring athletes through the GLL Sport Foundation.
“As a charitable social enterprise with which we are partnered, GLL commits to invest in the development of sportsmen and women and we would really like to see local athletes apply and be successful in the receipt of training funds and wider support.
“As a Council we are committed in providing opportunities for everyone to be more active more often and I would encourage everyone, however fit and active they consider themselves to be at present, to look into the provision offered by GLL Better at our gyms, pools and sports halls as well as in the community; the dance classes for all ages and abilities at The Hub; and programmes for guided and self-led walking through the Countryside NK services run by Hill Holt Wood – as well as other opportunities wherever they live.”
Applications for the programme are open until February 20, 2023 and athletes from the North Kesteven area are encouraged to apply at: https://www.gllsportfoundation.org/application-form or email GLLSportFoundation@GLL.ORG
Image shows: World ranked Para-cyclist and World Champion Hand cycling Triathlete Liz McTernan.
