Imagine this: our British Olympic and Paralympic athletes, fresh from the glory of Paris, rolling up their sleeves and diving into the heart of their communities with a big, bold idea to spark change.
Thatโs exactly whatโs happening with the new ChangeMakers Fund, backed by Allwyn, the folks behind The National Lottery.
Theyโre stumping up a tidy sum of ยฃ100,000 to fund projects that matter most to these athletes.
Now, this isnโt just about any project. The ChangeMakers initiative, a team-up between Allwyn, UK Sport, Team GB, and ParalympicsGB, aims to fuel projects that stretch from grassroots sports to promoting mental and physical wellness, all the way to boosting sustainability and inclusivity.
They’re giving our sports heroes a nudge to harness their passion for projects with a punch of positive social impact.
The funding options are pretty straightforward but clever: thereโs a โTry Itโ fund for athletes itching to get a new idea off the ground, and a โScale Itโ fund for those looking to expand a project thatโs already up and running.
Whatโs brewing in the minds of these athletes could be as diverse as starting local sports programs or launching initiatives that light up their towns with new energy and inspiration.
Take Emily Campbell, a powerhouse weightlifter for Team GB, whoโs already planning to open a gym in Nottingham.
Sheโs not just thinking about a gym for the fit and the fierce but one that welcomes everyoneโregardless of ability or background.
โThe ChangeMakers fund, created by The National Lottery operator Allwyn, is an incredible opportunity for athletes.
I am personally extremely excited and I am going to start my application straight away. We all feel the importance of giving back to the communities that made us, and I would love to open my own gym in Nottingham for people of all abilities and backgrounds.
These kinds of opportunities are just not possible without the support of The National Lottery.
โWe as athletes have a fantastic platform to talk about the things we are personally passionate about and additional support to turn this passion for social impact into reality means thereโs never been a more exciting time to be an athlete.
I want to use my voice to empower more young females to be strong, healthy and confident โ and Iโm calling on all my fellow athletes to think about where they can make a difference, knowing that additional support is now here for us to make it happen.โย
Andria Vidler, the CEO of Allwyn, โAfter an incredible Olympic Games, and with the Paralympics still to come, we are excited to open our ChangeMakers Fund.
By tapping into these athletesโ passions and their power to inspire we hope this funding will help them drive positive change in their communities and build on the amazing legacy of Paris 2024.”
Sally Munday, CEO of UK Sport, added: โOur Olympic and Paralympic athletes are remarkable, not just for their achievements in sport but for their unwavering commitment to making a difference in their communities.
The ChangeMakers Fund is designed to harness their ability and desire to drive positive change beyond the field of play.
With this fund, we are empowering our brilliant athletes to transform their passion into tangible, impactful projects that will benefit communities across the UK.
We are incredibly proud to support them in this next step of their journey to inspire and uplift those around them.โ
So, as these athletes shift from sporting stages to the grassroots of their towns, the ChangeMakers Fund stands as a beacon of support, empowering them to leave a legacy far beyond medals and records.
With Allwyn and the National Lottery stoking the community fires, our athletes are set to ignite a trail of inspiration and impact across the UK.