UP-and-coming athletes are being given the opportunity to gain much-needed support and funds as part of a sports development scheme.

Bromsgrove Leisure Centre operator Everyone Active is providing backing to athletes as part of their 'Sporting Champions' programme.

Triathlon Redditch Club members Louise Beasley and Stuart Mackay are among those already signed up.

Everyone Active’s contract manager, Neil Cowdrey, said: “We see so many quality sports men and women using the centres, and we are delighted to be able to support them on their journeys.

“As a leisure provider working in partnership with the council, we feel it is important to cater for all sectors of the community.

"This included emerging sporting talent, and I hope being part of the scheme makes a real difference to the athletes.”

The programme provides athletes either gold, silver, or bronze levels of support, and access to the company's 160 leisure facilities across the country, while higher tiers will be offered funding for training and competition costs.

Olympic silver medallist, Colin Jackson CBE, will also provide group mentoring opportunities in his role as ambassador for the scheme.

He said: “I’m proud to be involved with a scheme that is so dedicated to supporting athletic talent from grass roots up.

“It’s important that we drive sporting excellence in our country, and the Everyone Active Sporting Champions scheme is already supporting hundreds of talented athletes to achieve their sporting dreams.”

Visit easportingchampions.com to find out more.