Rolls-Royce supports The Derbyshire Talented Athlete Fund
Rolls-Royce has committed its support to the Derbyshire Talented Athlete Fund, with a £3,000 donation.
The new bursary scheme, which is to be managed by Derbyshire Sport, is designed to support Derbyshire’s emerging sports stars, and Rolls-Royce is the latest company to make a contribution.
Two senior executives from the company’s Turbines business unit, Hedley Hazell and Phillip Horton,presented a cheque for £3,000 to Councillor Clive Moesby, Chair of Derbyshire Sport, at Rolls-Royce’s Derby headquarters.
Phil said: “This has been a great opportunity for Rolls-Royce to become involved in the Derbyshire Talented Athlete Fund, and I hope the cheque will be a valuable contribution to the development of talented athletes within the county.”
Derbyshire Sport director David Joy said: “We are very grateful to Rolls-Royce and the other funding partners for their support of the Talented Athlete Fund.
“We hope that when our local sports performers achieve international success, they will be able to reflect positively on their journey and remember that the Derbyshire community recognised their talent and supported them in the early stages of achieving their goals.”
The Derbyshire Talented Athlete Fund has been estasblished by Derbyshire Sport in collaboration with Lorson International, Derbyshire County Cricket Club and all of the local authorities in the county.
The local authorities have committed a total of £19,000 to the fund and it is hoped to raise a total of £40,000 in the first year in order to provide bursary awards to at least 75 of Derbyshire’s most talented perfomers. Work has now begun to secure additional financial support from other public sector organisations and private sector companies.
In addition to the local authorities and Rolls-Royce, several other companies and organisations have also committed resources to the fund including: Derby College, Spirita and the Electrical Contractors Association.
Performers from all sports recognised by Sport England will be eligible for the awards, except those who are already receiving individual lottery awards or TASS funding. To be supported through the fund, sports men and women should already be competing for England or Great Britain or clearly demonstrate the potential to compete at this level within the next 18 months.
In this first year, receipients will receive a cash bursary of £300 to be used to help offset costs associated with training and competition such as coaching fees, travel to competition and equipment purchases.
The Derbyshire Talented Athlete Fund will be officially launched at the Derbyshire County Cricket Club on December 11, when the first 18 athletes from 8 sports will be announced. A further 60 athletes from other sports will be announced in February 2008.
Athletes from within 26 priority sports must be nominated by their governing bodies of sport and this process is now well underway. Performers in non prioirty sports should apply directly to the fund by December 31, 2007.
Further details of the Derbyshire Talented Athlete Fund can be found here.