Young sportsmen and women in Lichfield and Burntwood have been given a helping hand on the road to success.
The 2012 hopefuls were among 42 athletes across the county to receive cheques from Staffordshire County Council’s Young People’s Sports Performance Grant Scheme.
Each year the scheme provides funding to support young people who either live or go to school in Staffordshire and have proven to excel in their sporting field. The money awarded is used to support the cost of their training and participation in competitions, including expenses such as travel, equipment and accommodation.
Among those to pick up the cheques were:
- Eighteen-year-old Beth Cobden from Lichfield who has represented England Under 19s at netball.
- Burntwood judo star Joshua Hill, 18, who regulary represents England and Great Britain on the international stage.
- Fifteen-year-old Lichfield hockey hopeful Robbie Gleeson who has been part of the England Under 16 squad.
- Lichfield netball ace Lauren Massey, 17, who won her first international cap for England against Barbados in September last year.
County Councillor Pat Corfield said:
“Staffordshire is very proud of what our young sportspeople are achieving. I am very pleased to be able to recognise and support so much sporting talent in the county.
“Many of these young people are our potential future Olympians and their dedication and commitment to their sport deserves to be rewarded. It is also worth remembering that these athletes wouldn’t be where they are now without the support of their families and the dedicated volunteer workforce that is the bedrock of our local sports clubs.”
