Aspiring athletes in the borough have the chance to develop their sporting excellence by signing up to a programme run by Ealing Council’s leisure provider, Everyone Active.
Everyone Active’s Sporting Champions scheme is relaunching this month, offering access to top class training facilities and mentoring support from Olympians and Paralympians.
Councillor Polly Knewstub, cabinet member for thriving communities, said: “This is a wonderful programme that has given valuable support to some of our most talented young athletes, through mentoring and access to equipment. I am delighted that our sporting partner, Everyone Active, is continuing to promote sporting excellence and helping our aspiring athletes reach their potential.”
Hilmy Shawwal, who has represented Ealing many times at the London Youth Games in wheelchair racing, was one of the local athletes supported by the champions scheme.
Hilmy, who was a special guest at last year’s Ealing Sports Awards ceremony, said: “The scheme has helped me achieve the best ever wheelchair racing season in my entire life, with the help of the amazing PTs (personal trainers) and everybody at Northolt Leisure Centre. I’ve never ever felt this fit and strong in myself as well my sport.”
Other local graduates from the scheme include long/triple jump athlete, Joel Bright-Davies.
Joel said: “Coming from a single-parent household with financial struggles, I couldn’t afford access to sporting facilities. However, this scheme allowed me to enjoy athletics at a high level without worrying about the financial burden. It has provided me with invaluable support and resources.”
Since it started in 2016, the scheme has supported more than 5,000 athletes nationally by providing them with free access to Everyone Active’s leisure centres.
These include:
• Everyone Active Acton Centre;
• Brent Valley Golf Course and Fitness Centre;
• Dormers Wells Leisure Centre;
• Reynolds Sports Centre;
• Elthorne Sports Centre;
• Greenford Sports Centre;
• Northolt Leisure Centre;
• Perivale Park Athletics Track;
• Swift Road Outdoor Sports Centre;
• Twyford Sports Centre
To apply you need to show you are competing in your sport at a certain level.
To find out more and to apply, go to the Everyone Active Sporting Champions website.
Applications open Monday 12 February and you can apply until Monday 11 March.
Ealing Sports Awards 2024
Don’t forget, there is still time to enter your nominations for the Ealing Sports Awards 2024.
Run by Ealing Council and Everyone Active, the awards recognise and celebrate the sporting achievements of the borough’s clubs and individuals between 1 May 2023 and 30 April 2024.
Visit Everyone Active website for more information and to submit your nomination/s by midday on 1 May 2024.
