ATHLETES from across the county who have received crucial support to compete in regional and national sporting events attended Halo’s annual Sport Foundation awards last Friday.

The recipients were chosen by the Foundation for their commitment to their training and success in competition so far.

The Foundation which has Paralympic medallist Sascha Kindred (CBE) as its patron aims to give ambitious sportspeople in the county, crucial support for their future.

This year the Foundation is providing essential financial support and free training opportunities to 119 talented sportsmen, women and children of all ages (ranging from nine to 79), representing 34 different sports.

Athletes are chosen from a range of sports including athletics, fencing, badminton, wheelchair rugby, rowing, roller derby, equestrian, sailing and others.

The Foundation is all about investing in local talent; supporting local athletes and inspiring local communities.

Alex Haines from Halo’s Sport Foundation said: “Halo is proud to be a social enterprise and registered charity.

"It means no profit is put into the pockets of shareholders, but rather ploughed back into the work we are passionate about and the local community we serve. This is why Halo launched the Sport Foundation to support today's and tomorrow's local athletes to ensure they can achieve their potential because research shows 80 per cent of aspiring local athletes have limited funding to support their ambitions and the crucial training and competition that will help them progress to national and international level."

For more information about the Sport Foundation and how to apply for a grant (applications open in December) - or how you or your business could get involved supporting local athletes, visit: www.halosportfoundation.org.uk