Athletes invited to apply for GLL Sport Foundation Awards 2026
Talented athletes in Belfast are being invited to apply for support from the GLL Sport Foundation (GSF), the UK’s largest independent athlete support programme.
The GSF Awards 2026 offer financial bursaries alongside free access to local Better leisure facilities, as well as physiotherapy, lifestyle mentoring, and mental health and wellbeing support, helping athletes manage the costs of training and competition.
Commenting on the launch of the GSF Awards 2026 in Belfast, GLL Community Sports Manager, Corey Wilson, said: “Our GSF Awards provide a lifeline to individual athletes while inspiring other young people in local communities.
“We encourage as many talented Belfast athletes as possible to apply and see how the scheme could support their sporting journey.”
Celebrating its 18th year, the GSF Awards 2026 programme is bigger than ever, with a record £2m of grants and benefits available.
The GSF has supported many successful athletes, including Tom Daley, Ellie Simmonds, Anthony Joshua and Kimberley Woods, with past and present GSF athletes winning 77 medals at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Supporting young emerging talent has always been a core mission of the GSF programme, with most recipients aged under 21 and the largest cohort under 18. Across the programme, 88% of athletes receive no other funding or support, underlining the importance of the scheme.
Applications are open now and close on 20 February 2026.