Mayor launches fund to support young talent

A scheme aimed at removing financial barriers for talented young people to help them pursue their ambitions has been launched in South Yorkshire, the region's mayor has announced.

Teachers and community leaders can nominate people aged 11 to 19 for grants of up to £10,000 from The South Yorkshire Mayor's Youth Impact Fund to cover the costs of specialist training, equipment, course fees and travel.

South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard said the scheme was designed to support gifted young people who might struggle to access opportunities because of the cost involved.

"I want this fund to help open doors, create opportunities and make sure talent isn't held back by circumstances," he said.

Coppard said he was inspired to set up the fund by a childhood friend who, despite his talent, never realised his ambition of becoming a professional athlete.

"He was faster than Mo Farah at 16, but couldn't always afford to go to training," he said.

"We should never accept that a young person's future can be decided by what they can afford rather than what they're capable of."

Coppard referred to a number of successful people from the region, including Olympic champion Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill and rock band Arctic Monkeys, adding: "When young people here are given the chance to do what they do best, I know there's no limit to what they can achieve."

The South Yorkshire Mayor's Youth Impact Fund has been launched with an initial £25,000 donation from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, which is working with The King's Trust and South Yorkshire's Community Foundation.

Businesses and people are invited to support the initiative.

Clare Higgins at The King's Trust said: "Whether a young person's passion lies in sport, the arts, science, technology or another field, this fund has the potential to open doors, build confidence and create life-changing opportunities."

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