You may recall that last year, we decided to send our festive greetings electronically. In addition to citing the environmental benefits of taking this approach, we also promised to donate the associated savings to a good cause.

As a result, we offered our services and a financial contribution to establish Bury future champions, a scheme which will assist young, talented athletes who reside in the local authority in which our head office is based.

To this end, all year, we have worked in close partnership with Bury MBC, and in particular its Sports Development Unit to gain executive sign off and establish the practices and procedures to administer the scheme. Bury future champions will officially launch in early January, with the added bonus of a doubled opening fund to set off the scheme with a bang!

Offering effective support to local performers, Bury future champions provides national governing body of sport (NGB) identified talented or performance athletes from the Borough with access to:

• Free access to Council sports, fitness and athletics track based training facilities.
• The opportunity to apply for a bursary to assist with training and competition costs.

The partnership between KKP and Bury MBC will support the local delivery of the scheme, governed by a panel of relevant local individuals with a professional and/or personal interest in providing better opportunities for young talented athletes.

With marketing and promotional activity targeted directly at those who can benefit, we will soon be able to help those in need by relieving the financial burden associated with becoming a top performer and assisting with the costs of competition, travel, equipment and kit.

Watch this space as over the coming year we will be able to share the stories of those that have benefited from the scheme!