Athletes in Ashfield are being urged to apply for help from a sports talent development scheme.

Everyone Active’s Sporting Champions programme, now heading into its seventh year, has helped thousands to achieve their sporting potential by providing free access to Everyone Active’s 200-plus leisure facilities, including Lammas Leisure Centre, Sutton; Kirkby Leisure Centre; and Hucknall Leisure Centre.

Aspiring athletes can apply until Monday, 13th March at the Everyone Active Sporting Champions website www.easportingchampions.com

The scheme’s line-up of decorated Olympians and Paralympians includes Lutalo Muhammad, Jennifer and Jessica Gadirova, Richard Kilty, Lauren Steadman, Kadeena Cox and Maisie Summers-Newton, who will continue to provide their expertise, mentoring, and support to athletes accepted on the scheme this year.

Sporting champions will also receive free unlimited access to the Everyone on Demand app, providing them with more than 500,000 at-home workouts from leading fitness brands, including WithU, Flex, and Les Mills on Demand.

Olympic silver medalist Colin Jackson will remain in his role as Sporting Champions Ambassador, working alongside the scheme’s elite athletes to make sport more accessible within local communities.

Alongside some of Team GB’s top talent, he will play an integral part in providing both one-to-one and group mentoring sessions throughout the year.

Among those who have benefitted from the Sporting Champions scheme is Ryan Cowling, who helped Great Britain win wheelchair rugby gold at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

Ryan, who trains at Lammas and Kirkby, is now aiming for a repeat triumph at Paris 2024.

Lorenzo Clark, Everyone Actives contract manager, said: “We are delighted to be able to support rising sports stars from Ashfield on their journey to success.

“As a leisure provider working in partnership with Ashfield District Council, we feel it is important to cater for all sections of the community.

“The Sporting Champions scheme has already supported a huge number of athletes and I’m proud that we are continuing this again in 2023.

“We hope to continue making a real difference to our athletes’ success and are excited to see what this year will bring.”

Coun Rachel Madden, executive lead member for Leisure, Health and Wellbeing, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for young athletes to access state-of-the-art sporting facilities in Ashfield. Over the past seven years we have seen local youngsters from a range of sports join the Sporting Champions scheme and reach their sporting potential, both nationally and internationally. I encourage any young aspiring athlete in Ashfield to apply.”
Applicants should visit www.easportingchampions.com