Derbyshire Sport website search

Enter keyword - eg. athletics

Talented Athlete Fund

Launched in December 2007, 76 performers each received a bursary of up to £300 in the first year, to help them make the most of their talent.

This increased to 108 athletes in 2009, 109 athletes in 2010 and 159 athletes in 2011 who each received up to £300 to help meet costs such as travel, training and equipment.

Derbyshire Sport worked with Derbyshire County Cricket Club and Lorson International to establish the fund, and the 2011 cash pot has been made available thanks to contributions from a number of public and private sector partners who are all members of sport and business initiative ICON, which is aiming to create a lasting legacy from the London 2012 Games in Derbyshire.

The Derbyshire Talented Athlete Fund was created to fill a gap within the sports system in Derbyshire. Prior to establishing this, few of Derbyshire's up and coming sports performers were able to obtain any financial support from partners in the county, to help offset the considerable costs involved in competing at regional or national level.

We have some very talented young sports people in Derbyshire and we are trying to build a sports system in Derbyshire which will allow those who become successful to look back on their early stages and remember that organisations and companies in Derbyshire recognised their talents and supported them along the way.

Managed by Derbyshire Sport, bursaries are awarded to performers who are competing for England or Great Britain or have the potential to do so within 18 months.

The aim is to help emerging sports stars who, while perhaps receiving support from club or governing body structures, are currently receiving limited support from partners within Derbyshire.

Performers from all sports recognised by Sport England are eligible.

As part of the scheme it is also hoped that more local businesses will come on board, to boost the Fund further.

There are many sports people from Derbyshire who have been internationally successful, including Commonwealth medallists Donna Kellogg and Ross Davenport.

Just behind them are a host of young people competing successfully on the world stage for England or Great Britain in a wide range of sports, and The Derbyshire Talented Athlete Fund aims to identify and support these performers to help them fulfil their potential and compete at the highest level.

Derbyshire Sport director David Joy said: "We hope that when our 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 achieving their goals."