1,000 talented young sportsmen and women from across the South of England are set to benefit from a £500,000 award pot – thanks to the GLL Sport Foundation, one of the largest independent athlete talent support structures in the UK.

With just over 100 days until the Games, the sporting charity announced its 2012 support package of financial and training awards on Monday 16 April 2012 at a VIP event held at the landmark 'BT Tower' in London. Peter Bundey, Chair of the GLL Sport Foundation announced the names of the successful applicants, accompanied by Foundation partner Tim Lawler of SportsAid.

The Foundation supports young athletes from more than 60 sports across Olympic, Paralympic, Deaflympic and Special Olympic disciplines. A massive 90% of award recipients receive no other centralised funding, with more than 70% of award recipients being 20 years old and under, and more than 40% aged 16 years and under. Athletes can benefit from funding of up to £1,250 to be spent on training, travel and equipment during the next 12 months as well as free access to over 100 GLL operated leisure centres.

Former Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth Champion Sally Gunnell; Patron of the GLL Sport Foundation has remained committed to supporting young athletes since struggling herself to find funding support during her early years of competition "As Patron I have been able to champion the need for positive recognition and tangible support directly to young sporting talent.  I know from personal experience that many young athletes struggle to meet the costs associated with increased training and competition to reach their sporting dreams."

"With the 2012 Games nearly upon us it is vital that our athletes receive the support required to achieve their sporting potential. It is also vitally important that there are support mechanisms and legacy programmes in place for the next generation of sporting stars and our local communities; we are working hard to achieve this." 

Susie Rodgers a GB Disability Swimmer and GLL Sport Foundation and Westminster Champions of the Future Ambassador explains: "I worked hard to qualify for the GB team for the Europeans last year and came back with 5 Golds and a Silver - ranked as second overall for medals and the top female medallist. I got three European and 6 British records. The competition was extremely successful for me and lead to me being offered a place on the World Class Funding programme. I am applying for this award again this year, primarily because I hope to represent GB at the Paralympics in London and GLL support through Crystal Palace and the other centres has been great all last year, so it would be good to have that support again for this year in the run-up to qualifiers. My aspirations are to make the team for 2012".

Susie has subsequently achieved 4 qualifying times at the Paralympic trials and will compete at the Games.

Special awards were announced to further develop sporting pathways from grassroots to elite sport including; East London Lynx Sitting Volleyball Club, GLL London Titans Wheelchair Basketball Club, London Disability Swim Squad and Repton Boxing Club.

Peter Bundey, GLL Sport Foundation Chair stated "I would like to thank the Foundation's support network including our numerous local authority and public sector partners who provide training venues for the athletes; SportsAid for ensuring our direct linkage to National Governing Body pathways and to all our sponsors and supporters who fund the scheme".

"The Foundation is a significant part of GLL's legacy in the Olympic Park and to sport in the UK, we look forward to an amazing Games and developing the sporting legacy for all our athletes and local communities."

The GLL Sport Foundation was founded in 2008 with Sally Gunnell OBE as Patron. It plans to give in excess of £1.5m to young athletes in selected areas of London and the South of

England in the run up to 2012 and beyond. Further information on the Foundation and details on how to apply for the next round can be found at www.gllsportfoundation.org.