Charitable social enterprise and worker-owned co-op GLL has announced 51 athletes from Reigate and Banstead will benefit from the 2026 intake of its GLL Sport Foundation (GSF) – the largest independent athlete award programme in the UK.
Now in its 18th year, the GLL Sport Foundation has so far contributed nearly £20m worth of athlete funding and support and distributed nearly 35,000 awards to young and talented athletes in 69 areas of the UK where GLL operate and across 121 different sports.
Among local athletes benefitting are Megan Williams, Trampolining, Emma Dewar-Smith, Cycling and Oscar Laramy, Swimming.
With 86% of this year's cohort receiving no other form of funding - up 3% from 2025 - it outlines the significant contribution the athlete programme makes against the challenge of the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Over 18 years, the GLL Sport Foundation (GSF) has continued to be at the forefront of developing local young athletic talent with 63% of athletes under the age of 21.
GLL’s own research shows that many talented athletes struggle to realise their dreams of sporting glory due to rising costs of equipment, training, physiotherapy, travel and nutrition. For them, a GSF Award can be the lifeline to staying in training and meeting their potential.
At the Reigate and Banstead GSF Awards 2026 Launch Event held at Horley Leisure Centre on Tuesday 2nd June, insert number athletes and partners gathered to hear how this year's GSF athlete award fund of £37,560 will help support talented athletes on their sporting journey. The event was attended by the Mayor of Reigate and Banstead, Cllr Nick Harrison, who delivered a speech, with presentations led by Tony Brown, Area Community Sports Manager, supported by James Brackenborough, Partnership Manager.
Among them was Matthew Breckon: " GLL sports foundation has helped me develop by allowing me access to facilities whenever I’m travelling and competing. When racing in other areas I know a better centre is always near and accessible for me”
The GSF supports athletes through financial bursaries, access to physical rehabilitation and mental wellbeing support and all athletes are also given access to over 250 sport and leisure facilities across the UK operated by GLL under its "BETTER" brand.
37% of GSF 2026's cohort are new applicants - showing the successful growth and reach of the scheme across communities in Northern Ireland, Wales and England.
GSF Patron Sally Gunnell OBE said: “It's fantastic to see the GLL Sport Foundation announcing its largest ever award cohort in 2026.
"The support continues to make a difference to young athletes at precisely the point in their careers when they most need it - keeping them training and focused on success."
