Swindon athletes receive shares of £45,000 support fund

A total of 60 talented athletes from Swindon have received a share of £45,000 in funding and support through one of the UK's largest independent athlete support programmes.

The athletes have been awarded backing through the GLL Sport Foundation (GSF), a scheme run by not-for-profit leisure operator GLL, which supports promising sportspeople with financial assistance, access to training facilities and wellbeing services.

Among this year's recipients are Paralympic swimmer and equestrian Suzanne Hext, ice skaters Jack and Jamie Hammond, and athlete Harry Ricketts.

The awards were celebrated at a presentation event held at The Link Centre, which is run by GLL, where athletes, sponsors and partners gathered to mark the achievements of local sportspeople and hear how the funding will help them progress in their sporting careers.

This year, the value of support awarded to athletes in Swindon totals £45,000.

According to the Foundation, 86 per cent of athletes receiving awards this year do not benefit from any other form of funding, highlighting the challenges many face in meeting the costs associated with training and competition.

Suzanne Hext, who has represented Great Britain in para swimming and para equestrian events, said the support had been vital to her success.

"Over a number of years, the Foundation's support has played a pivotal role in my ability to train, compete and succeed on the world stage," she said.

"Access to GLL facilities, particularly the training pools at The Link Centre and Health Hydro, has been fundamental to my preparation and performance. 

"Having reliable, accessible, high-quality training environments has allowed me to train consistently and effectively."

The GLL Sport Foundation provides financial bursaries as well as access to physical rehabilitation and mental wellbeing services. Athletes also receive access to more than 250 leisure facilities operated by GLL under its Better brand.

Now in its 18th year, the Foundation has provided almost £20 million worth of funding and support to athletes across the UK and awarded nearly 35,000 grants covering 121 different sports.

Olympic champion and Foundation patron Sally Gunnell OBE welcomed the latest awards.

"It is fantastic to see the GLL Sport Foundation announcing its largest ever award cohort in 2026," she said.

"The support continues to make a difference to young athletes at precisely the point in their careers when they most need it, helping them stay focused on training and achieving their goals."