Talented athletes in Reading are being invited to apply for support from the UK’s largest athlete support programme, the GLL Sport Foundation (GSF) Awards 2026.
Now in its 18th year, the programme offers financial bursaries, free access to gyms, pools and other sports facilities, as well as physiotherapy, lifestyle mentoring and mental health support. This year, a record-breaking £2 million of bursaries and ‘in-kind’ support will be available, enabling young athletes to take their training to the next level.
In 2025, 84 Reading-based athletes across 20 different sports received support worth £55,400. Of these, 80% had no other central funding, 69% were under 21, and a third were under 16. Previous awardees include Olympic bronze medallist rower Rowan McKellar, junior England badminton player Anushka Ambrose, and British canoeist Olivier Mazur.
Operating under the Better brand, GLL is a charitable social enterprise and co-operative that runs four sport and leisure facilities in Reading on behalf of the council. Successful GSF applicants are given free access to these centres and hundreds of others across the UK.
GSF has previously supported household names such as Tom Daley, Ellie Simmonds, Anthony Joshua, and Kimberley Woods. Past and present GSF athletes collectively won 77 medals at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Sally Gunnell OBE, GSF patron, said: “Young athletes in the UK have never needed support as much as they do today. The GSF programme grows each year – with many recipients becoming household names. I’m looking forward to meeting the sports stars of tomorrow who are starting or continuing their sporting journeys with GSF in 2026.”
Craig Woodward, Reading Partnership Manager, added: “Our GSF Awards provide a lifeline to individual athletes and inspire other young people in our Reading community. We encourage as many talented athletes as possible to look into the scheme and find out how they may benefit from our support.”
Applications for the 2026 awards close on 20 February. For more information, visit www.gllsportfoundation.org
.
