On Wednesday 19th June 2024, Barnet Copthall Leisure Centre hosted the annual GLL Sports Foundation awards evening to celebrate the acceptance of Barnet-based athletes onto the largest independent athlete award programme in the UK.
The GLL Sports Foundation is supporting 74 athletes in Barnet this year with awards including financial bursaries, training and access memberships, and physiotherapy to help athletes with the cost of preparing and competing for national and international competitions. In addition, GLL has partnered with Switch The Play Foundation (STPF) to offer holistic mental wellbeing support services to athletes.
The awards evening was a great opportunity to present athletes with their official certificates, to integrate them within the Barnet GSF team, and to celebrate their successes over the past year. The event was well attended with over 80 attendees present including 33 athletes, as well as special guests The Worshipful The Mayor of Barnet, Councillor Tony Vourou, the Portfolio Holder for Culture, Leisure, Arts & Sports in Barnet, Councillor Anne Clarke, and Chief Executive Officer for Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) and Chair of the GLL Sports Foundation, Peter Bundey.
All 33 athletes in attendance were presented with certificates and GLL Sports Foundation bags, bottles and protein shakers. All those in attendance were also treated to a fantastic dance performance by the Goldstar Federation Dance Group, as well as a Q&A with Barnet’s GSF ambassador, Justin Levene.
Overall, it was a truly inspiring and joyous evening at Barnet Copthall Leisure Centre, and we would like to congratulate all of the athletes that have been accepted onto the GLL Sports Foundation scheme for the 2024 season. Well done and keep up the good work!
Overview of support
· 74 athletes supported across 28 different sports
· £47,750.00 in value
· 86% of supported athletes receive no other central funding
· 68% of athletes supported are under the age of 21, 44% are under the age of 16
· 26% of athletes are from an ethnic minority background
