Aspiring athletes benefit from new partnership between SportsAid and CGI

SportsAid has launched a new partnership with CGI to help young, talented athletes to achieve their sporting ambitions.

The first nine athletes to benefit from CGI's support are from England, Scotland and Wales and compete in athletics, disability athletics, cycling, swimming, gymnastics and basketball.

Among them is swimmer Katie Matts, 16 from Manchester, who last year won the British under-16 title for 100m breaststroke.

“Swimming has made me self-sufficient, determined and organised,” explains Katie. “It has given me valuable lessons and the self-belief to achieve.”

This August Katie will be one of 12 swimmers representing Great Britain at the FINA World Junior Championships in Singapore. She says the SportsAid Award she is receiving from CGI will be invaluable help towards her training costs, travel expenses, overseas training camps and racing suits in the build up to the event.

Twenty-four-year-old discus and shot put thrower Ashleigh Hellyer from Swansea said, “I am very grateful to receive this SportsAid Award from CGI. It will help enormously towards my travelling costs, kit, equipment, gym and instructor fees, and protein supplements. My throwing frame alone cost £600.”

Tim Lawler, Chief Executive of SportsAid said, “CGI’s sponsorship will make an enormous difference to these athletes who are without doubt some of the nation’s brightest prospects. The cost of their sport is a daily challenge so the support of CGI will be a massive boost. This is an exciting new partnership for SportsAid and it will make an instant impact.”

Tim Gregory, President of CGI UK said: “We are delighted to support SportsAid, which has such an excellent track record in fostering the best of British sporting talent. Identifying and supporting talent is key, whether in sport or business and we are looking forward to watching the progress of these budding athletes over the next few years and hope that we will make a contribution to the sporting stars of the future.”

The full list of all nine athletes who are benefiting from CGI’s support for SportsAid this year are:

• Hannah Brier (athletics), 17 from Neath in Port Talbot
• Shaun Burrows (disability athletics), 17 from Stoke on Trent in Staffordshire
• Ashleigh Hellyer (disability athletics), 24 from Swansea
• Josh Kerr (athletics), 17 from Edinburgh
• Katie Matts (swimming), 16 from Manchester
• Isabella Montagna (gymnastics), 16 from Twickenham in London
• Gabriele Nikitinaite (basketball), 16 from Orpington in Kent
• Oliver Postle (cycling), 16 from Newport in Monmouthshire
• Lewis Stewart (cycling), 16 from Glasgow

The funding will help these athletes overcome the number one barrier that aspiring sportsmen and women face - the cost of their sport - with each athlete receiving a SportsAid Award of £1,000 from CGI this year. This will help them with essential training, travel and competition costs to ensure they have the backing and recognition they need to succeed.

Previous beneficiaries of SportsAid include Mo Farah CBE, Dame Sarah Storey, Sir Chris Hoy, Ellie Simmonds OBE, Sir Bradley Wiggins, David Weir CBE, Jessica Ennis-Hill CBE and many other successful sportsmen and women. The charity’s patron is Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge