GLL Sport Foundation: Inspiring young people by promoting the development and achievements of young athletes supported by the Foundation.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS SET TO INSPIRE EMERGING ATHLETIC TALENT

Five athletes supported by the GLL Sport Foundation became National Champions at the European Trials and UK Championship held this weekend.

2010 National Champions; Jade Johnson (Long Jump), Jade Nicholls (Discus), Perri Shakes-Drayton (400m hurdles), Chris Tomlinson (Long Jump) and Alex Wright (5000m Walk) all benefit from funding and training support from the GLL Sport Foundation.

The GLL Sport Foundation currently provides support to over 800 athletes within London and the South East and is one of the largest independent providers of athlete support in the region. Brain-child of leading Social Enterprise organisation GLL, the Foundation seeks to inspire young sporting talent to develop personal performance and become positive role models for other young people.

The scheme operates in partnership with SportsAid and national governing bodies of sport to ensure that it works in harmony with national talent development programmes. In particular, it seeks to support early emerging talent with over 50% of awards given to young athletes aged under 16 years old and over 80% of recipients under 20 years old.

"The success of these National Champions is crucial to motivate and inspire the next generation of talent and we will always look to support a range of senior athletes for this purpose" says GLL Sport Foundation Chair Peter Bundey. "The commitment, dedication and hard work that these athletes put in are qualities that will help all young people whether in sport, education or their future chosen career.

We are really fortunate that these athletes are also willing to help us motivate others where they can by attending events and talking to younger athletes. Primarily however, they inspire by performance and everyone at the Foundation is delighted by their National success".

Ambassadors Jade Johnson and Chris Tomlinson are currently leading the way in British Long Jumping. "It was so nice to be back competing and winning at the European trials and UK championships. I still feel I have so much more to come, but I'm having fun and enjoying being back. One of the reasons for that is the help and support I've been receiving from the Foundation over the past few years, and that support has meant me being able to enjoy what I love to do, which means me performing to my best!" says Jade.

A back in form Chris Tomlinson states "The support that GLL has given me over the last few years has been a great boost. As a full time athlete and aspiring medallist at the 2012 Olympics, GLL's help allows me to focus on fulfilling my potential especially through the use of their top class training venues".

All of the athletes will qualify for the European Championships 2010 along with fellow GLL Sport Foundation supported athletes Andy Turner and JJ Jegede. Andy finished second in the 110m hurdles by three hundredths of a second but will still go to the European Championships as one of the race favourites. JJ finished second in the long jump behind Chris, but his jump far exceeded the qualifying distance and he is in contention for a place on the GB team.