Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) has awarded financial and training grants worth £400,000 to young athletes.

More than 800 youngsters are likely to benefit from the funding, touted as one of the largest independent athlete talent support schemes in the region.

The sponsored athletes represent a broad range of Olympic, Paralympic, Deaf Olympic and Special Olympic sporting disciplines ranging from swimming and athletics through to boxing, kayaking and wheelchair basketball.

Each will benefit from funding of up to £1,500 to be spent on training, travel and equipment during the next 12 months.

The successful applicants had to demonstrate that they live or train within a London or South East borough in which charitable social enterprise , GLL and partners operate sports and leisure facilities. They were also required to show long-term potential to succeed at International level.

Peter Bundey GLL Sport Foundation's chair said: "The aim of the Foundation is to provide practical and tangible support for talented young athletes.

"After the first two years of these awards, it has become clear that the support given to these young athletes is having a tremendous impact. The success of the scheme has already surpassed our expectations and we have been able to promote these young people as role models within their 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.