GLL Sport Foundation awards
The annual awards ceremony of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council’s leisure partner GLL’s Sport Foundation took place recently, with the presentation of the 21 Welwyn Hatfield athletes’ awards for 2024.
The support awards form part of the largest independent athlete support programme in the UK.
Attending the event at Hatfield Swim Centre on 26 June, was the council’s Chief Executive, Ka Ng, the Mayor, Cllr Frank Marsh, Deputy Leader, Cllr Jane Quinton, Cllr Lucy Musk, Assistant Director, Leisure, Community & Cultural Services, Joyce Guthrie and GLL representatives.
The GLL Sports Foundation - of which Sally Gunnell OBE is patron - supports local young talented athletes reach their potential through a range of support awards which cover:
- financial help
- access to sport facilities
- mental health aid
- physiotherapy
- lifestyle mentoring
The athletes who were successful in winning funding awards following their applications were invited to the special ceremony, where they were presented with their support packages.
This year 2,256 athletes across the UK will benefit from the Sport Foundation fund of £1.295m, including for some, the cost of preparing for and participating in national and international competition, such as the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games.
One of those athletes is swimmer Louise Fiddes from Hatfield Swimming Club, who is on her way to the Paris Paralympics in a few weeks.