The Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS), worth £6 million over its initial two-year lifespan, will give a variety of scholarships and bursaries to promising 16-25 year old sports stars. These will be used to get them top quality coaching and physiotherapy, as well as access to the best facilities in their part of the country.
Jowell met with nine young people who will be first to receive a scholarship or bursary at a reception at Number 10 Downing Street to launch the scheme.
Tessa Jowell said:
"High costs can be a reason for young people with potential not being able to realise their possibilities in sport. TASS scholarships will help meet the additional costs of coaching, travel and physiotherapy, all of which are necessary to achieve at a high level.
"These awards will help harness the talent that we have amongst the young in this country – and hopefully propel them on to the highest level. Around 1,000 young people, across around 50 different sports, should benefit from TASS in its first year alone. The knock-on effect on our top teams should be amazing.
"We're not just planning how to host the Olympics in 2012 in London – we're pushing to get British athletes on the podium in London."
Jowell added:
"There is no doubting this country produces some fantastic young talent which have gone on to be the very best – think of Paula Radcliffe, Michael Vaughan or Jonny Wilkinson. But we have no doubt let some slip through the net.
"TASS should halt that – and help us find and nurture the next generation of the best of English talent."
TASS scholarships will be awarded in September to 19 to 25 year old sportspeople to help them develop in their sport and also to continue with their academic studies. Bursaries will be awarded earlier in the summer to 16 and 19 years olds who are undertaking further education courses or have left education to take up employment.
Exchequer funding of £3 million annually has been allocated to deliver this programme – to which additional funding will be added through private sector fundraising to help those young sportspeople most in need.
Notes to Editors
· TASS will help hundreds of athletes across England at a critically important point in their lives to reach their sporting potential by maintaining a sensible balance between academic life or employment with training and competing as an athlete.
· TASS will span the gap in the sporting ladder between school, junior representative sport and world-class levels for young, talented people beyond the statutory school leaving age.
· Depending on the mix of scholarships and bursaries, we hope to support in the region of 1,000 athletes across 50 sports. This will make a huge difference to those in need, whether they are able bodied or disabled, in or out of tertiary education. The first bursaries will be announced in the summer followed by the scholarships in September.
· In addition to the Government funding allocated to delivering this programme, funding secured from private sector fundraising and donations will go towards the TASS Hardship Fund that is a safety net for TASS athlete who would otherwise drop out of TASS because of financial difficulties. The TASS Hardship Fund will help those TASS athletes most in need with living and academic expenses.
· Sport's national governing bodies are responsible for identifying talented athletes for a scholarship or bursary. High quality sporting facilities and services will be delivered through nine regional consortia in England where each consortium comprises several higher and further education institutions.
The first nine young sports stars to benefit, who attended today's launch at Downing Street, are:
Ben Edward-Inatimi TASS athlete - Rugby League
Ben's governing body is looking to nominate him for a TASS scholarship. He is studying journalism and politics at Salford University. He represents Salford University and has just been part of the successful English Universities team at the British Championships.
Sheldon Joplin TASS athlete - Boxing
Sheldon's governing body nominated him for a TASS bursary and he was the first person to be given a TASS award. Sheldon was on the BBC's Born to Win programme, in which he finished on the same points as the eventual winner, Garth Chamberlain, but was declared the runner-up because he won fewer events overall. Sheldon is part of the Amateur Boxing Association's potential programme.
Sarah Burrett TASS athlete - Wheelchair Basketball
Sarah is studying business studies and sport sciences at Brunel University and will be a recipient of a TASS scholarship. She started playing basketball at 13 at the National Junior Games. Sarah plays for Force Wheelchair Basketball Club in the first division and also in the Women's League. In February 2000, at the age of 15, she became part of the GB Squad. Sarah has played in several international competitions including the Sydney Paralympics in 2000 and the Japan World Championships.
Marie Ewing TASS athlete - Netball
Marie has family problems and is very much lacking parental support. It is hoped that a TASS scholarship will provide Marie with the support she needs when she begins her studies at Northumbria University in September. She is part of the under 19s England Squad and competed in European Championships in March in which she gained her first cap. She is the senior North Durham player and Captain of Under 18s County. Marie was recently selected for Team Northumbria Flames Super cup squad.
Oliver Murley TASS athlete - Diving
Oliver is looking to go to Sheffield Hallam University in September and if he gains a university place will receive a TASS scholarship. Oliver was in the National Junior Team competing at the European Junior Championships in Cyprus and he has been selected to compete in his first Senior International in Rome in May. In addition, he is one of only four British Divers to perform a reverse 3½ somersaults, which he performed for the first time at the British Championships in December.
Amy Olding TASS athlete - Golf
Amy is studying computing and management service at Loughborough University and has been put forward by her governing body for a TASS scholarship. She is a 3 handicap Surrey County golfer and a former member of the ELGA World Class Start Programme, who has now decided to combine golf with academic studies.
Gemma Chapman TASS athlete - Table Tennis
Gemma is being nominated by her governing body for either a TASS scholarship or bursary depending on whether she continue with academic studies or takes up employment. She is ranked 8th Junior and 13th Senior in the country. She was the winner of the National Trail Singles 2003 and 5th in the Junior Masters 2004. She is also a member of the Current National Club Champions.
Olivia Hyman TASS athlete - Disabled Power Lifting
Olivia has been put forward for a TASS bursary by her governing body. She featured in the Department's "Sporting Britain" publication, issued in April, which illustrated how athletes like Olivia will benefit from the programme and how TASS is a strand of the talent development framework. Olivia is barely sixteen and whilst she has a lot of ground to make up on senior level lifting, as a junior she is certainly showing an element of potential for the future. At the National Junior Games 2002 she won the Andy Wallace International Potential Award, Silver Cup for Best Female Weightlifter and Gold Medal for 1st Place. At the National Junior Games 2003 she won the Gold Medal and Silver Cup for Most Improved Female Weightlifter. She has also won the Gold Medal at the National Wheelchair Championships.
David Small TASS athlete - Water Skiing
David is studying environmental architectural engineering at Nottingham University and is being put forward by his governing body for a TASS scholarship. He has just become the World Overall Barefoot Champion for the 2nd time. He is also the World Jump Barefoot Champion and World Trick Barefoot Champion. David took the titles in Australia along with two World Records.
