Free Access for National Sportspeople Scheme (FANS) and Talent Bursary combined programme
Following the newly founded leisure partnership with GLL (Greenwich Leisure Ltd, operating under the brand Better) we are delighted to announce the reinstatement of Lewisham’s Free Access for National Sportspeople Scheme (FANS) and the improved Talent Bursary programme via the GLL Sport Foundation -GSF.
This is now one combined programme.
The GLL Sport Foundation is an organisation operated by Charitable Social Enterprise GLL to support talented athletes across the UK.
Athletes aged 10 and over who live, study or their club is based at a GLL/Better centre, or go to school in the Lewisham borough and perform or compete at a national or regional level can benefit from free access to local sports facilities. (FANS)
It also provides athletes with funding (Talent Bursary programme) and physiotherapy support . A bursary, up to £500, may be claimed towards costs associated with being on the pathway to becoming an elite performer (not available to those that are currently receiving lottery support through their National Governing Body of Sport).
Examples of what the bursary can be spent on are coaching, equipment and travel. The GSF will work closely with Lewisham to ensure the bursary is distributed in line with the previous operation of the programme.
Find out more about the Talent Bursary Criteria including the wider programme.
The GSF has an annual application process, with no restriction on age/sport and uses sports performance as the primary criteria.
The scheme is run annually through an application process opening in December – February.
The application form will be available from December and closes in February. Please check their website for latest dates.
The FANS programme is currently available at the following facilities:
- Forest Hill Pools
- Glass Mill Leisure Centre
- Wavelengths Leisure Centre
If you have any queries, please contact gllsportfoundation@gll.org.
The FANS programme is also available at Downham Health & Leisure Centre, please visit Downham Health & Leisure Centre website for more information.