Talented Cambridgeshire Athletes Rewarded
Charitable social enterprise and worker-owned co-op GLL has announced 29 athletes from Cambridgeshire will benefit from the 2025 intake of its GLL Sport Foundation (GSF) – the largest independent athlete award programme in the UK.
Operating under the Better brand, GLL is the not-for-profit social enterprise that runs GSF. Now in its 17th year the GLL Sport Foundation (GSF) has so far contributed over £17m worth of athlete funding and support and distributed over 30,000 awards to young and talented athletes in 70 areas of the UK where GLL operate and across 117 different sports.
At a GSF Awards Event held at The Pavilion, Wilberforce Road Sports Ground, Cambridge, on 10 September, athletes and partners gathered to hear how this year's athlete award fund of £20,100 will help support talented athletes on their sporting journey.
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. These include Abbey Leisure Complex, The Hive Leisure Centre in Ely, Parkside Pools and Gym and the Ice Arena in Cambridge.
Over 17 years, the GLL Sport Foundation (GSF) has continued to be at the forefront of developing local young athletic talent. GLL’s recent 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.
Local GSF athletes in Cambridge include four ice skaters, Helen Akpunar (16), Caterina Morena Nus (11), Isla Bhatt (11), and Kristi Hull (13).
Figure skater, Helen Akpunar, said: “I have skated since I was five and competed since I was 11. I love my sport, and it plays a huge part in who I am as a person. As a competitive figure skater and ice dancer my biggest goal for the year ahead is to qualify for the British Championships in Figure Skating. Thanks to this GSF Award I’ll be able to pursue my dreams and I’m really excited about the year ahead.”
Current GSF National Ambassadors include Joe Clarke, Kimberley Woods, Tulley Kearny, Louise Fiddes, Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson and amongst GSF Alumni are Tom Daley, Ellie Simmonds, Daryl Neita and Anthony Joshua.
Among those attending the event as guests were GLL’s CEO and GSF Chair, Peter Bundey, Councillor Mark Aston, Ward Councillor for Cherry Hinton and long-time supporter of the GSF and Professor Bill Harris, a key figure in the development of the Cambridge Ice Arena.
For more information visit www.gllsportfoundation.org
The GLL Sport Foundation's Patron is Sally Gunnell, OBE and partners involved in the programme include; SportsAid, SportsAid Wales, Mary Peters Trust, sponsors from GLL's supply chain and local authority partners.