Elite Athletes
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Rushcliffe Elite Sports Grant
The Rushcliffe Elite Sports Grant is in place to support a small number of athletes with a grant of up to £300. The aspiration is to alleviate some of the financial burden that competing at an elite level places upon individuals and families as this is often the barrier to achievement.
Awards are made to athletes who are currently performing at international level within their sport to help with costs such as travel, training, accommodation, competition fees and equipment, specialist coaching and other specialist support deemed appropriate by the National Governing Body over the next year.
Applicants must currently be competing for their country/in the national training squad in their chosen sport and must submit a confirmation letter from their National Governing Body confirming this.
This grant opens in January each year with the application window being open for approximately four weeks.
Applications for the Elite Sports Grant are now closed and the 2024 grants have been allocated.
More elite athletes than ever before from across Rushcliffe have been awarded grant funding to support their efforts in their chosen sport, helping them to reach their future national, Olympic and Paralympic goals thanks to our Elite Sports Grant.
Hear from some of this year's Rushcliffe Elite Sports Grant recipients in the video below:
We have awarded grants to 42 athletes from across 18 different sports that are now benefitting from the vital funds to help with costs such as travel, training, accommodation, competition fees and equipment.
A full list of grant recipients is below:
Abigail Burgess – Kayaking (Sprint)
Alex Cleator – Canoeing (Slalom)
Barney Corrall – Athletics (Long Jump)
Ben Squire – Orienteering
Benji Cabrera – Kayaking (Sprint and Marathon)
Ciara Maloney – Canoeing (Sprint, Marathon and Wild Water)
Colin Radmore – Dragon Boat Racing
Dave Phillipson – Paracanoe
Divine Duruaku – Athletics (High Jump)
Ella Dean – Touch Rugby
Ellis Pearce – Touch Rugby
Elsie Landsborough – Kayaking (Sprint, Marathon and Wild Water)
Eve Young – Artistic Swimming
Faye Sibley – Hockey
Finn Chalkley-Beales - Volleyball
Jonathan Short – Hockey
Jonathan Young – Paracanoe
Joseph Enoch – Kayaking (Sprint and Marathon)
Julia Kang – Touch Rugby
Leasha Pengkerego – Gymnastics
Lewis Warner – Swimming
Liam Jury – Gymnastics
Lily Walker – Synchronised Ice Skating
Lucas Cormack - Handball
Macy Kang – Canoeing (Slalom)
Matilda Enoch – Kayaking (Sprint and Marathon)
Matthew Hawes – Touch Rugby
Megan Mellor – Touch Rugby
Melissa Johnson – Kayaking (Sprint and Marathon)
Molly Palmer – Athletics (Long Jump and 100m sprint)
Niamh Whiteley – Synchronised Ice Skating
Oliver Simon – Touch Rugby
Phoebe Simon – Touch Rugby
Phoenix Weir – Tennis
Poppy Malik – Athletics (Track - 200m and 400m)
Sam Dean – Touch Rugby
Solomon Okrafo-Smart – Triathlon
Sophie Bosworth – Touch Rugby
Tamsyn McConchie – Kayaking (Freestyle)
Will Oakes – Archery
Willem Murray – Short Track Speed Skating
William Mellor – Touch Rugby
Rushcliffe FANS (Free Access to National Sportspeople) Scheme
The Rushcliffe FANS scheme provides sports people living in the borough who compete at a national level or equivalent with free access to the fitness suite and swimming for 12 months* at the following sports facilities in Rushcliffe:
- Bingham Arena
- Cotgrave Leisure Centre
- East Leake Leisure Centre
- Keyworth Leisure Centre
- Rushcliffe Arena
*Normal terms and conditions apply as with the standard Rushcliffe Borough Council health and fitness membership package.
The scheme aims to help elite athletes achieve their full potential by reducing the financial burden of training costs. Applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the scheme:
- A current national sportsperson (national is deemed as someone who represents their country/a member of the national team in their chosen sport OR listed in the top ten of the national age group in their chosen sport).
- A resident in Rushcliffe Borough for the majority of the year
- Competing in a Sport England recognised sport - Sport England - recognised sports
- Aged 14 and over on the date of application
On application, athletes must provide:
- A letter or email direct from your National Governing Body confirming involvement at national level (please note web links and results pages will not be accepted as evidence but may be submitted as additional supporting information)
- Photograph – emailed to sportsdevelopment@rushcliffe.gov.uk
If you would like to apply for the scheme please complete the Rushcliffe FANS Application Form and return it to sportsdevelopment@rushcliffe.gov.uk with all the required evidence requested. Individuals must reapply for the FANS scheme every 12 months by completing the application form and by providing updated supporting information again.