The TASS initiative is designed to make it easier for young people in England to continue to pursue sporting careers after leaving school, instead of seeing raw talent go to waste.

 

TASS scholars, aged from 18 to 25 and in higher or further education, will receive sporting services – benefits in kind - worth £3,000 a year, including paying for the cost of coaching, sports science, physiotherapy and the use of training facilities. Bursaries, worth £1,000, will go to 16 to 19 year olds still in education or in first jobs.

 

Sir Steve Redgrave said: "TASS is an exciting idea which I hope will make a major contribution to producing the sporting talent we need to represent Britain in Beijing in 2008 and, I hope, in London four years later," he said.

"I am pleased to be associated with it because I know how important it is to bridge the gap by ensuring that those who show exceptional ability at school go on to fulfill that potential as adult sportsmen and women."

 

To be eligible for the grants, young sportsmen and women have to be nominated by one of the 47 sports' governing bodies that are backing the scheme. Fifteen sports for disabled people are included and their athletes can be aged up to 35.

 

Tessa Jowell, Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport, said: "All too often young people take part in sport at school, but then give it up soon after they leave.  It can be really hard to combine a budding sporting career with college work, or a first job. The TASS scheme is intended to tackle this sad loss of sporting talent."

 

The first batch of TASS members include 57 from rugby union, 52 from athletics, 41 from squash and netball, 36 from golf and tennis, 33 from judo and 30 from table tennis.

 

 

1. The Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme is receiving an initial £3m a year in funding for two years from the Exchequer.  The scheme is running initially in England.

2. The sports that are eligible for TASS bursaries and scholarships are: Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Boxing, Canoeing, Cricket, Cycling, Diving, Equestrianism, Golf, Gymnastics, Hockey, Judo, Modern Pentathlon, Netball, Orienteering, Rowing, Rugby League, Rugby Union, Sailing, Shooting, Skiing, Speed Skating, Swimming, Squash, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Triathlon, Water-skiing and Women's Football.

3.   The TASS disability sports are: Archery, Athletics, Wheelchair Basketball, Boccia, Cycling, Equestrianism, Fencing, Judo, Disability Powerlifting, Wheelchair Rugby, Sailing, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis and Wheelchair Tennis.

4.   TASS operates across England through nine regional consortia.  Each comprises several higher and further education institutions that work together to provide a package of sporting services to TASS scholars and bursars in their region.  There are over 90 educational establishments across England delivering sporting services on behalf of the programme.

5.   Most stars of the future are known by their national governing bodies and already receive support to develop in their sport, and it is therefore these bodies that are in the best position to select athletes for a TASS award.  TASS athletes are also identified from other sources, including nominations to governing bodies from schools, colleges, and universities. Contact details for the governing bodies and eligibility criteria will shortly be found on the TASS website at http://www.tass.gov.uk/

6.   A TASS bursary or scholarship is made annually for the period 1 August to 31 July.  Providing that the sport's governing body recommends an award, support can continue for more than one year.  Funding is paid directly to the service provider and not to the TASS athlete.

7.   Guy Taylor, national manager, TASS, can be contacted on 0191 215 6567 (office) or 07966510436 (mobile)