Sky Sports Living for Sport introduces 12 new Athlete Mentors to inspire secondary school pupils –
Sign up now for the new academic year 2014/15
Twelve more sporting stars have been named as Athlete Mentors for Sky Sports Living for Sport as the initiative invites schools to sign up for the new academic year 2014/15.
The team of new athletes joins national ambassadors, 2012 Olympic Gold medallist Jessica Ennis-Hill, Olympic sprint legend Darren Campbell, and Sky Sports Living for Sport Ambassador in Ireland 2012 Olympic Gold medallist Katie Taylor.
Now in its 11th year, Sky Sports Living for Sport is a free secondary schools initiative, delivered in partnership with national charity the Youth Sport Trust, which uses sport stars and sport skills to improve the lives of thousands of young people across the UK and Ireland.
Already 79 Athlete Mentors visit schools across the UK and Ireland and use their personal stories of success to inspire students. Now a dozen more are joining the team; each handpicked by the Youth Sport Trust because of their unique personal journey.
The new Athlete Mentors are:
Cath Bishop – World Championship gold medallist rower
Jonathan Boyton – Sixteen-time national sprint kayak champion
Heather Fell – Olympic modern pentathlon silver medallist
Darius Knight – England national table-tennis star
Gilly Mara – World canoe and wildwater racing star
Alistair Patrick-Heselton – Paralympic seven-a-side CP football star
Ben Pipes – Olympic indoor volleyball star
Naomi Riches – Paralympic para-rowing gold medallist
Nicola Sanders – Olympic 400m runner and World silver medallist
Kelly Smith – Team GB, England and Arsenal women’s football star
Rob Vickerman – Rugby World Cup Sevens finalist and captain
Danielle Waterman – England women’s rugby World Cup silver medallist
John Steele, Chief Executive at the Youth Sport Trust said: “It’s exciting to welcome so many inspirational athletes to the team; each and every one has a different personal journey, which has seen them overcome a range of challenges to achieve success. It’s this story and their encouraging approach that helps young students to adopt a positive mentality and develop valuable life skills which they can use now and in the future.”
Judy Hill, Head of Sky Sports Living for Sport added: “Sky Sports Living for Sport continues to go from strength to strength with over 50,000 students from secondary schools across the UK and Ireland taking part each year. Our Athlete Mentors play a key role in delivering the programme and we’re delighted to welcome new athletes to the team to continue inspiring young people to reach their full potential.”
During the Athlete Mentor visits they introduce the six keys to success, which have been developed in partnership with the British Athletes Commission. The keys are designed to help young people develop valuable life skills and focus on: mental toughness; hunger to achieve; people skills; sports and life knowledge; breaking barriers and planning for success.
Registrations for the new academic year 2014/15 are now open! Schools interested in getting involved in Sky Sports Living for Sport can learn more and sign up today at www.skysports.com/livingforsport.
