A total of 45 young judo stars have benefitted from a £25,600 award pot – thanks to charitable social enterprise GLL and its athlete support programme the GLL Sport Foundation (GSF), in partnership with the British Judo Association.

The Foundation’s Patron Sally Gunnell announced the funding on Wednesday, 25 June at a VIP event held at the landmark ‘ArcelorMittal Orbit’ on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London.

One of the award recipients is Ashley McKenzie, 24, who has recently been selected by Team England to compete at this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Commenting on his GSF award, Ashley said:

“I aim to win gold at the Commonwealth Games and to keep improving on the good results I have achieved this year. My ultimate aim is to medal at the next Olympics in Rio. The GSF award supports my ambition for all of these targets.”

The young judoka are amongst more than 1500 talented young athletes from across the UK to have benefitted from a £1,000,000 award pot. The athletes supported by the Foundation represent more than 95 Olympic, Paralympic, Deaflympic and Special Olympic sports with 76 per cent of all awards going to athletes aged under 21.

Sally Gunnell explained the core role the Foundation takes in supporting the next generation of athletes and ensuring our sporting legacy for years to come, “It is vitally important we take full advantage of the inspiration from the Games and harness all the talent our youth can offer, supporting them as much as we can to fulfil many sporting dreams.

“From starting out as a young athlete and progressing through my sport, I understand how support from the GLL Sport Foundation is invaluable to a rising star; I am delighted that through this scheme I am able to champion such support for sporting talent.”

The Foundation works in partnership with SportsAid to ensure funding gets to emerging talent. 90% of all award recipients receive no other sport funding. Supported athletes benefit from financial training grants of up to £1,250 as well as training memberships at GLL and partner operated venues. Athletes also have access to further support opportunities targeted towards sports science, performance sport and coaching qualifications.

Peter Bundey, Chair of the GLL Sport Foundation, gave recognition to the many people and organisations helping the Foundation, “There has never been a more exciting time to be involved in helping young sporting talent. The success of the Foundation is testament to our network of local authority, sport governing body and university partners”.

“I would also like to thank our partners London Legacy Development Corporation and Cofely – GDF Suez for enabling us to showcase this core legacy event in this iconic venue within Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. In tough economic times we must also express our huge debt of gratitude to all our fantastic sponsors and supporters who fund the programme and finance hundreds of sporting dreams”.

Mark Camley, Executive Director of Park Operations and Venues, said: “We are proud to be supporting the GLL Sport Foundation through our world-class sporting venues on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The London Aquatics Centre and Copper Box Arena are exciting venues which enable everyone from grass roots through to professionals such as the London Lions basketball team to enjoy and participate in sport. Hopefully these venues will inspire the next generation of young people to take up and develop a love of sport.”

The full list of athletes who gained awards

Aaron Mahoney-Jones London Borough of Lambeth
Acelya Toprak Royal Borough of Greenwich
Adam Hoshal Westminster City Council
Blake Inniss London Borough of Ealing
Charlotte Potter London Borough of Ealing
Connor Leonard Crawley Borough Council – K2 Crawley
Craig Edwards Bridgend County Borough Council
David O’Doherty Crawley Borough Council – K2 Crawley
Eliot Bradford London Borough of Ealing
Elliott William John Gladwin London Borough of Hillingdon
Emma Pang South Bucks District Council
Ertug Vanli Crawley Borough Council – K2 Crawley
Harkirat Sekhon London Borough of Ealing
Harry Thomas Bridgend County Borough Council
Hayley Willis Greater London Authority – Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
Ioan Michael Harris Bridgend County Borough Council
Jack David Williams Bridgend County Borough Council
Jack Kelly Greater London Authority – Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
Jack Thompson Crawley Borough Council – K2 Crawley
Jamal Petgrave London Borough of Merton
James King Chiltern District Council
James Lawrence Draper Mid Sussex District Council
Jasmine Leigh Hacker-Jones Bridgend County Borough Council
John Jayne London Borough of Camden
Joseph O’Doherty Crawley Borough Council – K2 Crawley
Kirstyn Chase Crawley Borough Council – K2 Crawley
Lacey-Marie Williams Bridgend County Borough Council
Lauren Hawkins Epsom & Ewell Borough Council
Lee Shinkin London Borough of Barnet
Leonardo De Moura Muniz London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Lucy King Chiltern District Council
Mariusz Bajda London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Matthew Kavanagh Cambridge City Council
Oliver Chesney London Borough of Lambeth
Peter Vincent Crawley Borough Council – K2 Crawley
Rebecca Jane Burgess Bridgend County Borough Council
Reece Trevor James Gladwin London Borough of Hillingdon
Rhys Thompson London Borough of Barnet
Samuel Petgrave London Borough of Merton
Shelley Jackson Mid Sussex District Council
Stephanie Walker Swindon Borough Council – Oasis Leisure Centre
Theo Spalding McIntosh London Borough of Barnet
Wesley Jonathan Greenidge London Borough of Barnet
William von Mallinckrodt Chiltern District Council