Cardiff Athletes Get Funding Boost

GLL – the UK’s largest charitable leisure social enterprise that manages Better Cardiff Leisure Centres – is set to support local athletes in 2019 through its athlete support programme, the GLL Sport Foundation.

Eligible athletes can benefit from award packages that include financial grants of up to £1,250, free training memberships to use Cardiff leisure centres’ facilities and across 300 GLL and partner operated sporting venues.

They can also benefit from access to sports science, medical support and employment opportunities all focussed towards supporting their athlete journey.

Applications for the programme are open until February 20th 2019 and athletes from the Cardiff area are urged to apply.

Last year, the GLL Sport Foundation supported 67 talented young athletes from Cardiff from a £42,000 fund.

Among those who benefitted was swimmer Chloe Tutton who won a bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games in Australia last year having also represented Britain at the 2016 Olympics.

Chloe Tutton was just edged out of the medals in the 200m breaststroke final in Rio 2016. Pic: Getty Images.

“Receiving this award from the GLL Sport Foundation helps me massively as I’m a 21 year old moving to a new senior programme,” said Tutton.

“Moving away from home is a huge step especially when relying on such little funding provided by the sport itself to cater for living arrangements, food, and training needs.

“It would really take some weight off the shoulders knowing I have that bit extra that I can put towards a better life style so I can concentrate on getting better swimming results.”

One of the youngest recipients last year was Rhydian Castle aged 11, a pupil at Ysgol Glantaf. Rhydian started playing squash at Fairwater Leisure Centre and now absolutely loves the sport and plays up to eight hours of squash a week.

He attends the Squash Wales Academy Squad at Sophia Gardens and has started winning medals. He is an exceptional player and the grant will help him achieve his aspirations for his future in this sport.

“The grant from the GLL Sport Foundation will help me to carry on putting in as much time and effort into the sport and enable me to compete both in this country and abroad in the future,” said Rhydian.

Juliette Dickinson, GLL Regional Director for Wales, commented: “The wealth of young sporting talent within Cardiff’s local communities is truly inspiring.

“We are delighted to play our part in supporting the development of sporting talent across the city where GLL operates sports and leisure facilities.

“We believe that the vast majority of the athletes that benefit from the GLL Sport Foundation will give something back to sport and society in a positive way; whether as a future champion inspiring the nation, sports coach, volunteer, fund raiser or as an inspirational role model to other young people to get active and involved in sport”.

Applications are open until 20th February 2019 via the website portal – www.gllsportfoundation.org