Sports Bursary Scheme Launch
16th January 2012 - 25th February 2012
Lewisham Shopping Centre Launches Sports Bursary Scheme to Assist Local Talent
With the excitement of the Olympic and Paralympic Games fast approaching, Lewisham Shopping Centre would like to recognise and support a local sporting talent by offering a fantastic Sports Bursary to assist with their training.
All local athletes, sports men and women who are currently in training for the Olympics are invited by the Shopping Centre to step forward and explain why they deserve to win Lewisham’s Sports Bursary. Whether your talent is in athletics, basketball, hockey, swimming or netball - as long as your training goal is to be part of the UK Olympic or Paralympic team this year or in 2016 then Lewisham would like to hear from you!
The Lewisham Sports Bursary includes a £1,500 cheque towards training costs as well as a sports kit to help improve day-to-day training performance.
To be in with a chance of securing the Sports Bursary, you can either send in your own entry or be nominated by a teacher, parent, friend or coach who thinks that your dedication to training excels above others. Athletes must live in the Lewisham, Bromley or Blackheath area.
The bursary winner will be invited to Lewisham shopping centre on Saturday 25th February to receive their prize and take part in a ‘Beat the Olympian’ competition in which they will challenge the public to defeat them on a rowing machine. All funds raised will be donated to the British Heart Foundation.
Paul Redden, centre manager at Lewisham Shopping Centre comments: “It’s well documented how difficult it can be for sportspeople to fund their training so we hope our bursary will go some way to helping with that. The Lewisham area is recognised for producing a host of top athletes, so we are really looking forward to getting the entries and finding the sports bursary’s worthy recipient.”
Sir Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham adds: "We all know about the star athletes who grab the headlines but there are thousands of very talented athletes trying very hard to get a place at the games. Some of them live in Lewisham and they need all the support we can give them. This great initiative by Lewisham Shopping Centre will give one dedicated sportsman or woman an extra boost which might just help them to be a winner at the 2012 Olympics."
To help judge which athlete should be awarded the bursary, Lewisham will be joined by top coaches from Norman Park and Ladywell track.
Coach John Blackie at Norman Park comments: “Getting to the top of one’s sport is very tough; however staying there for long enough to produce outstanding results on a consistent basis is even tougher. Not only does the athlete need to be dedicated and committed to the cause, but so does each member of the support team, be it parent, partner, coach or therapist. This bursary from Lewisham will enable the athlete to offset the costs of the support team and as a result reap even more benefits from the team in their joint aim of achieving and sustaining Olympic prospect status.”
Coach Michelle Bovell at Ladywell Track comments on the need for more funding and support: “Our athletes come from all backgrounds and it would really raise the level of belief in many of the young men and women if they knew that local businesses and the community were behind them in their endeavours to make it as an Olympian. Athletes at a national level find it hard to support themselves in training unless they have a job or supportive families. Covering the cost of travel to and from venues for training and the cost of entering each mayor championships can mount up during the season, add to this the cost of clothing, footwear and equipment and it is no wonder so many leave the sport to focus on other things. Having a sports bursary can be the real turning point of a good athlete.”
Entry Requirements:
• Open to all ages and sports that are valid to compete in the Olympics or Paralympic
• Athletes who are currently in training in the hope of making the UK Olympic or Paralympic team
• Nominees must have competed at county, regional or national level and must either live or study in Lewisham, be a member of a sports team/club/school in Lewisham
• There is no limit to the number of separate nominations that can be made by one individual
• Closing date for nominations is 18th February 2012
Submission Procedure:
• Closing date for receiving entries is 18th February 2012
In your nomination, please include the following details:
• Sportsperson’s name
• Address, email & contact telephone
• D.O.B
• Details of sports talent ( chosen sport and the reasons why you are nominating them or yourself)
• Previous sports awards/ competitions
• Details of the athletics club / sports team they belong to
• Outstanding achievements – e.g. the entrant has a disability which they have overcome through their sport
By email: lewishamsportsaward@pegasuspr.co.uk
By post:
The Lewisham Sports Bursary Award
Pegasus Public Relations Ltd
Ridgeworth House
Liverpool Gardens
Worthing
West Sussex
Unfortunately we cannot respond to every nomination, but if you make it through to the short-list we will be in touch with you by 18th February 2012.
For further information please contact Anna Carey at Pegasus PR on 01903 821550