Youth Sport Trust reveals 1st “Believe to Achieve with Kelly Holmes” scholars

THE Youth Sport Trust has announced the names of the 1st young athletes who will receive funding as part of its “Believe to Achieve with Kelly Holmes” scholarship programme.  The national charity, which strives to help build a brighter future for young people through sport, has joined forces with the double Olympic champion to support a new generation of British sporting talent.

The “Believe to Achieve with Kelly” scholarship programme will provide both financial help and lifestyle management support to 91 up-and-coming athletes across a variety of sports, including athletics, canoeing and triathlon.  The scheme has also been extended to include some of the country’s most promising young coaches, the first scholarship scheme of its kind to offer such support.

Dame Kelly won more than a dozen major international medals during her illustrious athletics career, including gold in both the women’s 800m and 1500m at the Athens Olympics in 2004.  She said:- “I faced many challenges, set backs and disappointments on my pathway to double Olympic gold, but it was the support of people around me that kept me pushing towards my goal. I hope this scholarship scheme will go some way to allowing each of the athletes and the coaches to continue striving towards their ultimate sporting dream.”

Dame Kelly will join Sir John Beckwith, Founder and President of the Youth Sport Trust and some of the scholars for a special lunch in London on Wednesday 21 November 2007.

Swimmer and “Believe to Achieve with Kelly” scholar Louisa Farrer-Fisher, aged 17, from Streatham, in London, is already making waves in her sport having won 4 gold medals and one silver at this year’s UK School Games in Coventry - topping her incredible return of 4 gold's at last year's Games in Glasgow.  She said:- “To be involved in this scheme is fantastic for me and the financial support will really help me with my training and transport costs. It’s also great to meet the other scholars and get some tips off them that I can use to make me a better swimmer. I really want to be at the Olympics in 2012 and hopefully this scheme can help get me there.”

BMX biker Arran Shrosbree, 15, from Lincolnshire, is regarded as the brightest prospect in Great Britain in the sport’s under-16 age group.  He said:- “It’s a huge honour to be recognised by Dame Kelly Holmes and the Youth Sport Trust. Kelly is such an inspirational person and it’s amazing that we’ve got the chance have lunch with her and ask her questions. The “Believe to Achieve with Kelly” scholarship has already helped me so much. We’ve had a development day where we were given advice on fundraising and how to do interviews with the media – both of which are really important if you want to be a successful athlete.”

Talented coach Amber-Leigh Cunningham, 17, from Plymouth, works with nationally ranked swimmers and will make history on her 18th birthday when she becomes the youngest ever coach to achieve the Amateur Swimming Association’s Level 2 qualification.  She said:- “It’s great that the “Believe to Achieve with Kelly” scholarship programme also supports coaches as well as the athletes. I am really passionate about coaching and helping others become the best they can be so getting support from Kelly and the Youth Sport Trust will hopefully help me gain the qualifications and experience I need to be an elite coach.”

Steve Grainger, Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust –- said:- “We would like to congratulate all the “Believe to Achieve with Kelly” scholars and wish them every success with their sport. With the Olympic and Paralympic Games coming to London in 2012 and Glasgow hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2014, the Youth Sport Trust is fully committed to supporting our talented young athletes. We will be working closely with the National Governing Bodies of Sport to help these talented youngsters manage their educational commitments alongside the demands of training and competition."

The scholars were selected by the Youth Sport Trust after being put forward by their respective sport’s National Governing Body and will receive funding which can be used for:-

· Sporting equipment

· Training costs or fees

· Travel and accommodation costs for training and competition

· Sports science and medicine support

Think inside the box

LIVERPOOL school children are being asked to share their ‘treasure’ to celebrate European Capital of Culture.  Pupils across the city will be the first group to take part in Treasures – a mass participation project for 2008, which invites people to make their own personal treasure box celebrating Liverpool’s cultural identity. The project will start in schools before being rolled out city-wide in early 2008.

The Liverpool Culture Company has launched a special information pack and DVD to support the project, which will be distributed to schools this week. Although the pack includes tips on how to make a box, there is no set design template. Pupils and teachers are encouraged to create truly personal boxes filled with their own memories and mementoes of life in Liverpool – whether it’s a photo of a favourite pet, a football ticket stub, or a story about a trip to the museum.

Schools will upload photos of completed boxes to the virtual Treasures gallery at www.liverpool08.com. 

Treasures was inspired by a unique wooden chest, created by the late Bishop of Liverpool, David Sheppard. His wife, Lady Grace Sheppard, said:- “It excites me to think that children, and others, will be letting loose their creative spirit, and engaging with the place where they live, seeing the city we love with new eyes, and showing us what they see.  I like to think that this little box may have inspired children, their families and schools to have fun together in the Capital of Culture while learning more about Liverpool’s history. I hope it may contribute to creating a new sense of pride in the city at an early age which can be passed on down the generations.  I am greatly looking forward to seeing a selection of the finished treasure boxes when they are presented at St George’s Hall.”

The project will be a key theme of the People’s Opening Show at St George’s Plateau on January 11, during the European Capital of Culture opening weekend. A selection of the boxes made by schools during the next few weeks will be used for a special Treasures exhibition inside St George’s Hall during January.

Councillor Warren Bradley, leader of Liverpool city council and deputy chair of the Liverpool Culture Company, said:- “Put simply, Treasures is about placing your life into a box. The project will start in schools, but eventually we want everyone living in the city – and the surrounding areas – to have a go at creating their own Treasure box.  It’s a great project which gives everyone the chance to get involved in celebrating what they love most about Liverpool – I can’t wait to start making my own box!” 

New text service to remind patients of their appointments

IN a drive to cut down the number of patients who do not attend their outpatient appointments, from today, the 26 November, patients will receive a text message from the hospital reminding them.

"Over the last few months we have been asking patients if they would mind if we sent them a text to remind them. A lot of patients have given us their mobile number. So that we can make sure the system is working properly we are introducing it in 2 pilot areas, paediatrics and gynaecology, and we will hopefully be rolling it out across the Trust in the near future. 

Currently around 11% of all outpatients do not attend for their appointment.

Yes, it does cost money, which is obviously a waste, but for us the more important issue is that the appointments could be offered to other patients.

We have introduced the text messaging to remind patients of their appointment in the hope that they will turn up.

However, if they cannot and have forgotten to tell us they can't, the text will include a phone number to call so that we might offer the appointment to someone else." said Richard McCarthy, General Manager at the Trust,

The direct phone number for people to call to tell us they cannot make an appointment is 01695 656680. Alternatively they can email them direct or contact them via the website. 

Dugdale Released

ADAM Dugdale's monthly contract was due up for renewal on 22 December 2007 and the central defender who has not yet reached full fitness has not had his contract renewed. The club would like to thank Adam for his contribution during the past month, during which he scored 2 goals. Adam had a spell on loan with the Sandgrounders last season, during which he played 7 games and made 1 further substitute appearance.

Player Information:-

Name:- Adam Dugdale
Date of Birth:- 12/09/1987
Previous Clubs:- Crewe
Position:- Central Defender