UP-and-coming athletes in Taunton and Wellington are being given the chance to take their sporting careers to the next level with Everyone Active's Sporting Champions scheme.

Relaunching this month for the ninth consecutive year, the renowned programme empowers aspiring athletes to achieve their full potential through access to state-of-the-art training facilities and invaluable mentoring support from Olympians and Paralympians.

Since its inception in 2016, the scheme has elevated the sporting careers of more than 6,000 athletes by providing them with free access to Everyone Active's 240-plus leisure centres nationwide.

These include Blackbrook Leisure Centre and Spa, Wellsprings Leisure Centre, Taunton Swimming Pool, Wellington Sports Centre and Vivary Golf and Adventure Centre, run in partnership with Somerset Council.

A local budding athlete who has benefitted from the scheme is runner Kirstie Booth.

Kirstie, 47, from Wellington, said: “Having access to Wellington Sports Centre through the Everyone Active Sporting Champions scheme has enabled me to focus on my strength programme for my 2025 1500m athletics goals.

“Having broken my foot at the start of last season, using Everyone Active facilities has enabled me to cross train and focus on my strength before I return to 1500m specific training.”

Olympic silver medallist and former world record holder Colin Jackson will return as the scheme’s Ambassador for 2025-2026.

He will work alongside a line-up of inspiring Elite athletes who have starred on the Olympic and Paralympic stage – Lauren Steadman, Lutalo Muhammad, Richard Kilty, Maisie Summers-Newton and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey – in mentoring sessions throughout the year.

Last summer, the scheme supported 26 Sporting Champions who competed in the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, achieving nine gold, six silver and eight bronze medals.

Applications open on Tuesday, February 11, and run until Tuesday, March 11, via the Everyone Active Sporting Champions website: easportingchampions.com