Programme for future talent

Talented Athlete Support Services

Wigan Sports Development provides a number of services to support talent athletes to reach their full potential. Athletes can apply for financial support towards equipment, kit, training and competition costs, as well as free access to training facilities across the Borough.

Talented Athlete Programmes include:

THE GMPA COACHING LEGACY FUND
The fund has been developed by GreaterSport in partnership with Greater Manchester Police Authority and Ask Goodman to support talented athletes in Greater Manchester to access high quality coaching to enable them to fulfill their potential.

The GMPA Coaching Legacy Fund is available to fund coaching fees incurred by talented young athletes to access elite coaching. Elite coaching is defined as a coach qualified as a level 3 and above, or recognised by the sports national governing body as coaching at an elite level. A maximum of £200 is available per applicant per year to enable talented young people aged 25 or under to pay for elite coaching.

Deadlines and panel dates for this year’s applications are as follows:

Deadline for applications: Friday 2nd September 2011
Panel Meeting: Tuesday 13th September 2011

Deadline for applications: Friday 9th December 2011
Panel Meeting: Wednesday 21st December 2011

Deadline for applications: Friday 9th March 2012
Panel Meeting: Monday 19th March 2012

THE WIGAN F.A.N.S SCHEME - Free Access for National Sportspeople
Elite athletes can access any Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust leisure facility for personal training and development free of charge, through the Wigan F.A.N.S Scheme. The scheme aims to assist elite athletes to reach their full potential and is open to sportsmen and women who currently perform at national or international level in a sport recognised by Sport England.

Eligibility Criteria
•  Athletes must reside in Wigan or their club must be based in Wigan
AND
•    Athletes must be aged 12 or above (exception to this is gymnastics, as this is recognised by Sport England as an early specialisation sport)
AND
•  Athletes playing in team sports – must be a current member of a national team or squad
OR
•  Individual performers – must be listed in the top 10 of their national age group ranking at the end of the previous competition season

For more information regarding any of the talent programmes please contact Wigan Sports Development on 01942 828510/404982.