UP-AND-COMING sports stars in Bromsgrove are being encouraged to apply for a sponsorship and mentoring scheme backed by Olympic heroes and run by the operators of the town's leisure centre.

Everyone Active is urging aspiring athletes to apply for funding and support as part of its Everyone Active Sporting Champions scheme.

The company operates Bromsgrove Sport and Leisure Centre in partnership with Bromsgrove District Council.

It currently supports a number of sportsmen and sportswomen in the area including Cofton Hackett powerlifter Julie Davis.

Duncan Jefford, director of Everyone Active’s Sporting Champions scheme, said: “We are proud to have invested over £1 million in helping upcoming athletes across the country to achieve their goals.

"As part of the scheme, athletes will benefit from mentoring sessions throughout the year that will provide them with support, advice and guidance.

“We have exciting plans for the future of the scheme and I would encourage any athletes from Bromsgrove that are looking not just for funding but also mentoring for their future sports career to apply for Everyone Active’s Sporting Champions scheme.”

The scheme, which is now entering its fifth year, has helped more than 1,000 athletes to achieve their sporting potential through access to high-quality training facilities, financial support and expert advice.

All athletes are provided with free access to Everyone Active’s centres across the country, and those on the higher tiers of the programme can also receive a sponsorship grant of up to £5,000 to help towards their training, equipment and competition costs.

Athletes on the scheme are also given exclusive opportunities to join mentoring sessions led by some of Britain’s most influential sports stars including Olympic silver medallist hurdler Colin Jackson CBE.

In 2019, the scheme hosted several sessions across the country which included talks from industry experts alongside Olympic and Paralympic athletes who shared their personal experiences and advice with upcoming athletes.

Online applications are open until Friday, February 28.