Springboard Launch
04 February 2009
We have teamed up with SportsAid, Bristol City Council, Bristol University, the John Rutley Sport Fund and the West of England Sport Trust ("Wesport") to create a new scheme called Springboard – which will be launched on Tuesday 24 February 2009.
The scheme will support talented young sportsmen and women from the Bristol area, offering much-needed grants but also providing access to training facilities, nutrition advice, free legal advice and mentoring.
Typically, beneficiaries will be aged between 12-18 years and their sport must be recognised by Sport England. They must not be in receipt of funding from the government's Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) or the National Lottery. They will receive grants of between £300 - £600 for the year, plus mentoring, publicity and pro bono legal advice from us. Through the International Card, Bristol City Council and the University of Bristol will provide access to local training facilities with Springboard athletes invited to attend a High Performance Open Day at the University. Athletes must also reapply annually. It is hoped that the scheme will extend to 10 – 18 athletes per year.
Details of the launch
The launch will take place at 11.00am on Tuesday 24 February at our headquarters at Narrow Quay House. Light refreshments will be served.
* Welcome
* Video from SportsAid showing SportsAid athletes winning at the Beijing Olympic games in 2008
* Address from Dennis Yeoman, SportsAid SW England
* Address from Burges Salmon trainee Ed Coode MBE, gold medallist at Athens in 2004 (and early beneficiary of a SportsAid grant)
* Address from a representative of Bristol City Council
* Presentation to and Q & A with the three young athletes who will be the first to receive Springboard scheme funding
* Photocall with athletes, founding partners and representatives.
In addition, we are going to be exhibiting our own sporting prowess by a parade of lawyers who have all played sport at national or international level. Expect an interesting line-up!