Local athlete funding available + thousands raised for a good cause
Inside Salisbury: Stars Appeal receives donation worth thousands
By Annette J Beveridge
TWO grants are now available to support athletes with training or competition needs as part of Wiltshire Council’s Funding Future Olympians and Paralympians grants.
A Sports Scholarship grant of £500 is available to athletes aged between eight and 18 years-of-age. The deadline for applications is 12pm on Friday, December 6 2024.
An Elite Athlete grant of £1000 is available to athletes of any age competing at an elite level either nationally or internationally. The deadline for applications is 5pm on Monday, January 6, 2025
Team GB High jumper Tom Gale said, “Ten years ago I was lucky enough to receive one of the first sports scholarship grants. It was the catalyst that started me on my sporting journey as I moved up to receive the Elite Athlete Grant and that led me all the way to the Tokyo Olympics.
While a blood clot prevented me from competing in Paris, I am now focused on Los Angeles 2028. Knowing I have the support of my local community has been invaluable to me and fostered a belief in me to compete and succeed at the very highest level of sport.”
Funding for both grants was raised at the annual Wiltshire Business and Sports Gala Dinner set to return in 2025.
Leader of Wiltshire Council, Councillor Richard Clewer, said, “This funding makes a huge difference to the athletes helping them on their quest to success. We are delighted that as a result of hosting the annual Wiltshire Business and Sports Gala Dinner, we have a foundation fund to support future Olympians and Paralympians.
“The funds are raised with the support of local businesses so that we can all offer help to both the county’s elite athletes and its future sports stars.”
A couple raise thousands after the loss of their children
THOUSANDS of pounds has been raised for the Stars Appeal Benson Suite after supporting a couple following the loss of their baby son and daughter.
Neal Riley and his wife Els lost their son Oscar at 31 weeks in January 2023. The couple’s ‘world fell apart again’ in November of that year when they lost their daughter Sophie at 35 weeks.
With the support of friends and family, Neal and Els have been raising money over the last 18 months. Neal and his friends took on a 100-hole golf challenge in June at Rushmore Golf Club. This raised over £16,000. The challenge, which started at 4.20am, took over 16 hours to complete and saw the team walk more than 30 miles.
They previously completed a 72-hole golf fundraiser, raising over £4,500. Since January 2023, £23,512 has been raised for the Benson Suite in memory of Oscar and Sophie.
Neal said: “I’m immensely proud of the team and the amount of money we have raised for a charity that is so close to our hearts. The day was a massive success, lots of people turned up to welcome us home. We all had a few aching bones on the Monday morning after the golf marathon. Thank you to everyone who has supported us.”
The Benson Suite within the Maternity Department at Salisbury District Hospital provides a dedicated, private space where families who sadly experience the death of a baby at birth can be cared for with their baby, away from the Labour Ward. The specialist suite helps ensure the time these families are able to spend with their baby is as precious, dignified and personal as possible.
Neal and Els said: “The Benson Suite provided a space where we could process the tragedy and come to terms with losing Oscar and Sophie. The staff were incredible, supporting us throughout and making us feel at ease.”
