Leisure Centres To Support Young Athletes

Talented young athletes from across Harborough are being urged to apply to join a scheme to help further their potential.

It is being run by leisure centre operator Everyone Active, with successful youngsters able to receive free use of facilities to train and mentoring from top Olympians and Paralympians.

Matt Hopkin is Everyone Active’s contract manager and is urging people to apply for the Sporting Champions scheme:

Harborough Leisure Centre

Since its inception in 2016, the scheme has transformed the lives of more than 5,000 athletes by providing them with free access to Everyone Active’s 230-plus leisure centres nationwide, helping them press forward in their journey to sporting stardom.

For 2024, the legendary Colin Jackson, Olympic 110m hurdles silver medallist and former world record holder, returns as the scheme’s Ambassador.

He will be working alongside a line-up of inspiring Elite athletes who have starred on the Olympic and Paralympic stage – Lauren Steadman, Lutalo Muhammad, Jessica and Jennifer Gadirova, Kadeena Cox, Richard Kilty and Maisie Summers-Newton – in group mentoring sessions throughout the year. These sporting heroes will share their wisdom and expertise, guiding up and coming athletes every step of the way.

Colin said: “I’m passionate about nurturing young talent and the Sporting Champions scheme goes above and beyond in this mission. With the Olympics and Paralympics taking place in Paris this summer, the programme takes on even greater significance in 2024. Seeing these future champions flourish fuels my excitement for what’s to come.”

Cllr Jim Knight, Harborough District Council’s Cabinet lead for Wellbeing, said: “We urge budding young Harborough district athletes to sign up to this brilliant initiative which boosts the pathways to success with state-of-the-art training facilities and unique mentoring support from Olympians and Paralympians. We’re proud to support this proactive scheme that delivers this fantastic opportunity to nurture local grassroots talent into national sporting champions.”

Applications can be made until Monday, March 11, 2024 via the Everyone Active Sporting Champions website HERE