Epsom and Ewell athletes supported by the GLL Sport Foundation head for Birmingham 2022
Welsh Hockey player, Sarah Jones aged 32 and 400m hurdler, Jessie Knight aged 28 both supported by the UK’s largest independent athlete support programme will be competing at the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham.
Sarah and Jessie will compete as one of this year’s 145 GSF supported athletes who will take part in a variety of different sports - including athletics, boxing, netball, para-athletics, swimming, para table tennis and triathlon.
The GLL Sport Foundation (GSF) is the UK’s largest independent athlete support programme which is designed to give young talented athletes a range of funding, access to sports facilities and athlete support services. The GSF work in partnership with SportsAid, SportsAid Wales and the Mary Peters Trust in Northern Ireland as well as numerous sporting, medical and local authority partners.
In 2022 over 1,500 talented athletes are being funded by the GSF, of which an 87% receive no other centralised or independent funding or assistance. The GSF support has provided a lifeline to the athletes and an inspiration to other young people in local communities particularly as sport training and competition emerges from the Covid pandemic.
They also provide a support network for a growing number of talented athletes heading to national and international competition.
Sarah said: I am thrilled to be representing Wales at my third Commonwealth Games this summer in Birmingham. I’m hugely grateful for the support of GLL in helping me along my journey for over 5 years!"
Peter Bundey, GSF Chair, paid tribute to the GSF athlete award holders heading to Birmingham:
“We are proud to be supporting so many talented athletes – including Sarah Jones & Jessie Knight who will be competing for their countries in the forthcoming Commonwealth Games.
“They exemplify the very best of our communities and embody the spirit of our social enterprise philosophy and I wish them the very best of luck.
“I want to thank our sponsors, partners and supporters for helping give these athletes a welcome boost and allowing them to continue the richly diverse sports they love and excel in.”
The GSF is the brain-child of GLL, the UK’s largest charitable social enterprise delivering sport, leisure, culture, health and community facilities.
Charitable social enterprise GLL operates 260 sport and leisure facilities across the UK in partnership with 42 local authorities and sporting bodies. These venues span the UK from Belfast to Bournemouth and from Cardiff to Carlisle to Cornwall.
GLL managed centres operate under the consumer brand ‘Better’, each one offers leisure, fitness and wellbeing – with gym, swim, classes, courts and pitches to enjoy, indoors and out – or family fun during summer staycations at lidos, trampoline parks and watersport centres.