Up-and-coming athletes in Harrow are being given the chance to become ‘Sporting Champions’ through a sports talent development scheme, supported by Everyone Active.
The Sporting Champions programme has been running for seven years and has helped thousands of athletes to achieve their sporting potential by providing free access to Everyone Active’s 200+ leisure facilities across the country, including Harrow Leisure Centre, Rickmansworth Golf Course, William Penn Leisure Centre, and South Oxhey Leisure Centre.
Aspiring athletes can apply to the scheme from February 13 to March 27 by visiting the Everyone Active Sporting Champions website. The programme offers an impressive line-up of decorated Olympians and Paralympians, including Lutalo Muhammad, Jennifer and Jessica Gadirova, Richard Kilty, Lauren Steadman, Kadeena Cox, and Maisie Summers-Newton, who will provide their expertise, mentoring, and support to athletes accepted on the scheme this year.
Sporting Champions will also receive free unlimited access to the Everyone on Demand app, providing them with more than 500,000 at-home workouts from leading fitness brands, including WithU, Flex, and Les Mills on Demand.
Olympic silver medalist Colin Jackson will remain in his role as Sporting Champions Ambassador, working alongside the scheme’s Elite athletes to make sport more accessible within local communities.
Over the past seven years, Sporting Champions has invested more than £1million into athletes on the scheme. The scheme’s Elite athletes will play an integral part in providing both one-to-one and group mentoring sessions throughout the year.
Cllr Chris Lloyd, the council’s Lead Member for Leisure which includes Health, said: “The athletic icons of tomorrow have to start their journeys today, and I am delighted that this project continues to support aspiring athletes to begin their journeys right here – using our local facilities in Three Rivers. Everyone should have access to such opportunities, and I urge anyone interested to apply today for this exciting scheme.”
John Sewell, Everyone Active’s contract manager, said: “We are delighted to be able to support rising sports stars from Three Rivers on their journey to success. The Sporting Champions scheme has already supported a huge number of athletes, and I’m proud that we are continuing this again in 2023. We hope to continue making a real difference to our athletes’ success and are excited to see what this year will bring.”
Applicants should visit www.easportingchampions.com to fill out the online application form, which will be available from Monday, February 13 – Monday, March 27. To find out more about Everyone Active’s Sporting Champions programme, visit www.easportingchampions.com.