2011 saw us continue to receive a steady flow of high-quality applications. In our evaluations, we look for past commitment, a clear plan for the future and a full understanding of how a grant from the Trust will help the young person to realise their dreams and aspirations.

Ahtollah Rose has been training as a multi-disciplined athlete since she was 9 years old. Now a long-jump specialist, she has come to the attention of the England team selectors with jumps of well over 12M. Her grant will help with specialist Physiotherapy fees replacement kit.

Josh Farrand is truly an inspiration. Enrolled in a Martial Arts class aged five to boost his social confidence and help him to fight his severe asthma, no one could have predicted that Josh would progress to be British karate Champion and a member of the England team. As well as attending a tough training regime, Josh is also studying for his ‘A’ Levels and hopes to go on to study medicine. His grant will help fund attendance at the European championships and world championships in the next few months.

Twelve-year-old Jade Stedford has already reached ‘Elite’ status in National Artistic Gymnastics and is an Olympic hopeful for 2016. She is already competing at International Level, Her grant will fund her equipment, clothing, attendance and accommodation at International Competitions.

Roy Ejiakuekwu is 16 and is a short-distance sprint specialist. His sights are set on the 2016 Olympics, and his record at under-17 level where he has recorded the 2nd all-time fastest time at 150 meters speaks volumes for his abilities. His grant will be used to provide equipment and allow him to cover training expenses.

Lucie Campbell is a very special young lady. Since her early years, her ambition has been to be a Musical Theatre performer. Now 18, she has gained a place at the famed ‘Laine’ theatre school to do a three-year National Diploma in Musical Theatre studies. Lucie has fought serious illness and has always done what was needed to ensure that she kept her dream alive. We feel very privileged to be able to give Lucie a grant to secure her first year at ‘Laine’ and we wish her every success.

We have been very proud to support Katie Byres in the past, and we are very excited that she has decided to train full-time to achieve a place in the England Pole-Vault team for this year’s Olympics. She has already achieved wins in competition against much older athletes this year, and is within just a few centimeters of Olympic Qualifying height. Our grant will help fund her preparations for this momentous occasion of the 2012 Olympics here in the UK.

16 year old Chloe Jones commutes regularly from her home in North Wales to train at Sale Harriers. She specializes now in Triple-jump and Hurdles and has achieved a number of wins at Regional and National level. Her grant will cover travel expenses to training and also some new kit.

2010 saw some very good applications, and we were able to make a slightly larger number of awards this year.

Laura Cruxton who is a young, talented Rower at Trentham Rowing Club. Her £4,000 grant will buy her a single scull boat so she can train full-time.

15-year old Greg Appleby is already a junior champion Pole Vaulter, and is a member of Sale Harriers. His £1,000 grant will go towards high quality vaulting poles of the correct size for his current age and size.

We helped Katie Byres, another promising Pole Vaulter at Sale Harriers last year. This year, her £500 grant allowed her trainer to travel with her to Singapore, where Katie represented Great Britain at the Youth Olympics.

Claudia Cagna was a grant recipient two years ago. Her grant of £2,500 has secured her future for this year to continue her Dance and Theatre Studies at London Artsed.

Olivia Callaghan is 16 and is a promising Young Sprinter at Sale Harriers. Her grant of £750 will go towards cost of equipment and competition expenses.

Sabrina-Jean Hughes is a star pupil at London Artsed and ‘Student of the Year - 2010’, studying ‘drama, dance and Musical Theatre. Her £1,500 grant will make up the shortfall in her Bursary for this year to complete her studies.

The ‘Rob Roy’ boat club in Cambridge is a new Organization to us. Their talented young rower, Angus McCluskie has already been singled out by Sir Steven Redgrave as a future champion. His grant of £2,500 will cover equipment, training and competition expenses.

Lee Harrison

a talented Rower from Trentham Rowing club. His grant bought a state-of-the-art single rowing scul.

Clovis Asong

This Talented 14-yer-old runner of Sale Harriers has an exciting future ahead of him, and is already breaking records.

Katie Byres

Katie is a talented pole-vaulter, and the grant will buy her top-quality equipment.

Sabrina-Jean Hughes

The grant will help Sabrina-Jean complete her studies at the London Arts Educational.

Katie Porter  

Katie is a talented dancer and performer. The grant will help her to realise her dream to attend Theatre school.

George Samson

A young street dancer, George subsequently went on to win the ‘Britain’s got Talent’ TV show.

Katie Wilson

a Theatre Studies Student in her final year at the Italia Conti School.

Rebekah Wilson

a promising young athlete at Sale Harriers.

Paul Sutcliffe

a talented, young Rower at Trentham Canoe Club, for whome we bought a ‘Junior Canoe’.

Emilie Sutcliffe

a young pupil at the Hammond Theatre School in Chester.

Claudia Cagna

a young student at the London Arts Educational College.

We also donated a flute to the music department of Withington Girls’ School

A young skater who shows considerable promise. Subsequent to her grant, she won a prestigious junior skating title.

A young, Scottish Archery prodigy. The grant enabled her to travel to Europe to compete in her first Adult Competition.

A young design Student. Her grant paid for a Summer School course. Her end-of-course report gave her glowing references.

Unusually, we also gave a grant to an inner-city project called Hackney Quest. This project has built and made available a music tuition and recording studio for Hackney’s less-privileged young people who show talent for any aspect of music