Talented young athletes from across the borough are being invited to apply for funding to help them ‘fulfil their ambition.
The Nottinghamshire County Council’s Talented Athletes Fund has opened yesterday (14) and is offering grants up to £400 for borough athletes who have represented their country at national athletic events in the last year.
Applications for the funding close on October 15, 2018.
The Talented Athletes Fund is part of the County Council’s Local Improvement Scheme which offers financial help and support to local communities.
Grants are available to pay for travel, training, accommodation, competition and coaching fees and kit costs. The county council awarded 65 grants worth more than £23,000 in sports grants last year.
Councillor Gordon Wheeler, Vice-Chairman of the Communities and Place Committee, at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “I’m delighted to be launching the Talented Athletes Fund. We want young athletes – both male and female – to apply to this fund, so they can receive vital support for their chosen sport.”
Previous local sports stars to have received the funding, include gymnasts, Sam Oldham, Becky Downie and Ellie Downie; swimmers, Ollie Hynd and Charlotte Henshaw; athlete, Richard Whitehead; show jumper Sophie Wells and rising tennis star, Freya Christie.
Coun Wheeler added: “Some fantastic athletes have benefitted from sports grants from the County Council in the past and young people will immediately relate to these stars.
“I am proud that the council is playing its part to ensure that current and future sports stars have the financial support they need. Our Local Improvement Scheme provides targeted financial support to help make Nottinghamshire stand out as a place where people can fulfil their ambition. We wish all applicants the very best of luck.”
Ice hockey player Toby Fisher from Arnold was one of the lucky ones to have received funding from the scheme last year.
Toby was with the Nottingham U15 Tigers for the last two seasons, and he will now be playing for the Nottingham U18 Cougars for 2018/2019 season. They train on a Tuesday night at the National Ice Centre, and Toby also trains with the U20 Leopards on Wednesdays and Nottingham Lions senior team on a Thursday night.
He lifted the U15 Division 1, North Champions title and the U15s National Champions titles with Nottingham Tigers, and has been selected for Team England, competing for his country in Bratislava. Toby also plays for Midlands Conference – a team that is made up from elite players from each club side, competing against Scotland, North, south east and south west. With Midlands Conference, the team were Winter Classic Champions in January this year and Toby was top points scorer of all players at the tournament.
Dad Glenn said: “As a family, we have supported the Nottingham Panthers Ice Hockey Team since the 1990s and Toby was just five days old when he attended his first game and there has been no looking back! He started skating at four years old with the Squirts sessions run by the NIC and joined his first team – Nottingham Sabres U10’s, aged just five.
“Toby’s passion is playing a skilled, fast paced, high octane team sport and being a winner.”
Toby attends Arnold Hill Academy, in his very little spare time away from ice hockey. He is signed for Arnold Town football club and had has a season ticket for Nottingham Panthers. In five years he would like to be playing at the highest possible level and to be part of the GB squad aiming for the Winter Olympics.
Applicants must live in Nottinghamshire – please read the ‘Talented Athletes Fund Application Guidelines’ for full details of the criteria for funding, which is available to download from the County Council’s website: www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/talented
