Local Authorities

Most local authorities run grant schemes to help talented young athletes in their catchment area. They are not usually very large (between £100 and £500) but apart from the cash value, they can be seen as "gateway" awards - establishing the fencer as someone worthy of support. Some authorities also offer support in kind, usually free or subsidised membership of local training facilities.

Some examples can be seen on the following links, but you will need to identify your local authority, and trawl their website to find the right scheme for you. They often have fixed application dates, so make a note in your diary of when your authority accepts applications.

Five fencers get £500 each from Sport Godlaming

Derbyshire fencer receives £300

Some local authorities, often in conjunction with commercial enterprises, also run competitions like "young sports personality of the year". These are usually harder to win than the basic awards, but are worth aiming for, as they frequently come with quite a generous cheque attached. Others are less profitable, but can help boost the profile when looking for commercial sponsorship. Click on the following links for examples:

Maiyuran Ratneswaran becomes Taut 100 Sport Person of the Year finalist

Sophie Mason and Matt Fitton win awards