Leisure provider champions local sporting talent

Up-and-coming athletes in Stratford-on-Avon have been given the opportunity to gain much-needed support as part of a sports development scheme.   

in its third year, Everyone Active's Sporting Champions in partnership with Stratford-on-Avon District Council, is providing even more talented sports men and women with the facilities and funds needed to support their training and help them reach their full potential.  

39 local athletes have recently been recruited to the scheme at Stratford, Studley, Shipston and Southam Leisure Centres, which Everyone Active manages on behalf of Stratford-on-Avon District Council.  

The athletes have been offered either gold, silver of bronze levels of support, all of which allow them access to Everyone Active's 160 leisure facilities across the country, with the higher tiers also offering funding for training and competition costs.  

Triathlete, Corinne Moss has been awarded a sliver sponsorship after finishing in 10th place at the World Championships in Rotterdam last year. Motorsport karting star, Allessandro Ceronetti, Archer Caitlin McCarthy and swimmer George Smith are just a few of the other local athletes to receive support through the scheme.  

Olympic silver medallist, Colin Jackson CBE, is continuing to support the scheme through his role as an ambassador. Alongside some of Team GB's top talent, he will play an integral part in providing both one-to-one and group mentoring opportunities to the athletes.   

Colin said; "I'm proud to be involved with a scheme that is so dedicated to supporting athletic talent from grass roots up.  

"It's important that we drive sporting excellence in our country, and the Everyone Active Sporting Champions scheme is already supporting hundreds of talented athletes to achieve their sporting dreams."  
Over the past three years, Everyone Active's Sporting Champions has invested more than £500,000 to help over 700 athletes achieve success.  

As well as local up and coming athletes a strong line-up of Olympic and Paralympic athletes are supported by the scheme, including gold medal-winning gymnast Max Whitlock, Team GB hockey captain Alex Danson and wheel chair racer Jade Jones.  

Everyone Active's contract manager, Gareth Wagg, said: "We see so many quality sports men and women using the centres, and we are delighted to be able to support them on their journeys.  

"As a leisure provider working in partnership with the Council, we feel it is important to cater for all sectors of the community. This included emerging sporting talent, and I hope being part of the scheme makes a real difference to the athletes."  

Cllr Mike Brain, Services for the Community Portfolio says: "The District Council is pleased to be working with partners at Everyone Active to offer this package to the up and coming athletes within the district of Stratford-on-Avon.  Sport plays such a vital role in our community, helping people to develop skills and encouraging a healthy, active lifestyle at all levels."  

To find out more about the Everyone Active's Sporting Champion's programme, visit www.easportingchampions.com.       

Everyone Active is the trading name for Sports Leisure Management Ltd (SLM), which operates leisure facilities in partnership with local councils across England.   SLM is the longest-established leisure operator in the UK, having formed in 1987. At the time, it managed just one leisure centre in the Midlands, whereas today it has grown to operate more than 160 leisure facilities and cultural services across the country in partnership with 49 local authorities.

For more information please visit:  www.everyoneactive.com