Hackney,
11
March
2015
|
14:30
Europe/London

Hackney Youth Sports Fund: Rising stars awarded

noah.jpg

Fourteen of Hackney’s young rising sports stars have been given a helping hand to be the best they can be in their chosen fields thanks to Hackney Council’s Youth Sports Fund.

Noah Williams, 15, a talented diver who achieved fifth place in the British National Senior Diving Championships, said: “The grant helped me get into team GB for the Junior Worlds in 2014 by paying for the qualifying competition in Rome.

“I’m hoping to qualify for the Junior Europeans in 2015 and aspire to go to the Commonwealth Games in 2018 and Tokyo Olympics 2020.”

Since it was first set up in November 2007, the Youth Sports Fund has provided financial aid of more than £164,200 to help nurture young talent from grass roots to national level.

Strandell-Walker brothers Kian, 10, Cameron, 12 and Ethan, 13, who all compete in judo, have been given funds to buy new uniforms and help with expenses to compete.

Kian said: “To get the funding will help me very much, because now I know that Hackney are supporting us and helping to boost us and make us better.”

The boys’ uncle and Hackney Coach of the Year, Calvin Walker-Hall, was also awarded a grant to help him compete at national and international level and further inspire the young people he coaches.

Now 10 more talented young people, representing a range of sports including cycling, fencing, cricket and kayaking, are in line to receive boosts of between £50 and £500 thanks to the latest round of awards.

The fund was boosted by £30,000 thanks to a four-week Adidas advertising campaign on Hackney Marshes Centre which the Council brokered with the sports giant.

 

 

Cllr Jonathan McShane, Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care and Culture, Hackney Council
Hackney Council has a successful history in providing sporting opportunities for the borough’s young people and we’re determined to continue to do this.

Our deal with Adidas will benefit our young sportspeople directly by paying for things like travel, equipment or coaching. 

I’d like to congratulate all those who have been successful in this round of grants and I’m excited to see what they’ll do in the future; who knows, we could be fostering future Olympic stars.
Cllr Jonathan McShane, Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care and Culture, Hackney Council

Hackney Council’s Youth Sports Fund has awarded 390 grants towards the development of young athletes from Hackney since 2007.

Some of those awarded will also receive a fully paid or half-price membership at one of Hackney Council’s six leisure centres, courtesy of centre managers GLL.

Also awarded in the last round of funding were dedicated volunteers of Stoke Newington Cricket Club, William Tucker and James Endean; and the Hackney Downs All Stars football club.

For more information about the applying for Hackney Council’s Youth Sports Fund please contact the Council's Leisure & Physical Activity Team at: leisuresports@hackney.gov.uk or 020 8356 4897.