"Bury based management consultants Knight, Kavanagh & Page, which specialises in work in the sports sector is providing services and financial support to establish Bury Future Champions, working in partnership with Bury Council on the Scheme that backs young people with sporting talent in the local authority in which its head office is based."

The scheme has been introduced to support the Borough's talented young athletes:

• Free access to training facilities at Bury Leisure sports centres
• The opportunity to apply for funding to assist with training and competition costs

(image) Bury Future Champions is the inspiration of KKP and Bury MBC Sports Development. This unique partnership will manage delivery of the Scheme that will be governed by a panel of local people who have a professional and/or personal interest in providing better opportunities for young talented athletes.

Bury Future Champions is targeted at young people aged between 12 and 25 that compete at a recognised performance level in a Sport England approved sport. It is designed to, for example:

• Provide them with more opportunities to train and improve fitness at no extra cost
• Assist with training costs, travel and equipment
• Make it possible for them to attend training camps or other high profile training events
• Enable them to gain access to additional coaching support

Competing at the highest level in any sport is often expensive so the idea is to give local sporting talent as much backing as possible. As specialists in sports and leisure, KKP is driving this initiative. We are committed to providing:

• Annual funding of c. £1,400 per annum (over a five year period) to support the funding element of the scheme.
• Administrative, website and marketing support.
• As the scheme takes off, assistance to persuade other Bury based businesses to contribute.

John Eady, Chief Executive said,

"KKP is passionate about sport and helping others to provide sporting opportunity. We are now putting our money where our mouth is. Nothing would make us prouder than helping one of Bury's promising stars to make it onto the podium at a major sporting event."

For more information go to www.bury.gov.uk/futurechampions.

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Over the coming months, we will be looking to expand the number of people that the Scheme can support by getting more local businesses involved. If you are interested, please contact Lynne Harrop (lynne.harrop@kkp.co.uk)