ATHLETE SUPPORT
INTRODUCTION
Being an elite athlete is a unique experience. You’ll travel your own path along the way, with highs, challenges, emotions, and opportunities. But there's support available throughout your journey, from UK Sport, the British Elite Athletes Association, the UK Sports Institute or your home nation institute, your sport and your support network. You can access a range of help and advice, during and after your time on-programme. Find out more below.
SUPPORT
FOR YOU
FUNDING
Your Athlete Performance Award
As a UK Sport funded high-performance athlete you can apply for an Athlete Performance Award (APA), which is a financial grant offered to you as an athlete as a contribution towards your living and training costs.
If you currently receive an APA and are in the process of leaving your programme you will receive an amount of funding, via your APA payment, in line with the amount of time you have been on the programme as set out in UK Sport’s APA Policy and your sport’s athlete selection policy.
Got a question?
Get in touch with your National Governing Body or contact Athlete.Investment@uksport.gov.uk
Personal Development Awards
Take advantage of your Personal Development Award, which is for educational, career-based courses or driving lessons. You're able to apply every 12 months whilst on programme to help with costs towards learning and development.
If you're in the process of leaving you can still apply as long as you complete courses within 12 months after your final Athlete Performance Award payment (subject to Personal Development Award criteria and budget being available).
Got a question?
Get in touch with your Performance Lifestyle Practitioner to access your award or contact Athlete.Investment@uksport.gov.uk
1-2-1 SUPPORT AND ADVICE
UK Sports Institute (UKSI) Performance Lifestyle
The UKSI Performance Lifestyle team are passionate about the holistic support and development of athletes as people and as performers, as they join, move through and beyond the World Class Programme. Every funded Olympic and Paralympic sport has an assigned Performance Lifestyle (PL) Practitioner(s) whose role it is to work with athletes across areas such as: transition, career development, mental health and wellbeing, education, financial health, and learning and development, offering a safe and, where needed, confidential space.
Specialist PL support is now available to all funded World Class Programme athletes for up to two years after you come off a World Class Programme, helping you navigate the many changes you may encounter in terms of your purpose, identity, social connections, wellbeing, or making the next career move happen.
For the first six months after your last APA payment, you can start or continue to work with the UKSI PL practitioner in your sport. You may already be working with them to support your transition, if not, please contact them directly to get started.
Alternatively, you can choose to access support from the central PL Futures team for up to two years after your last APA payment and they can provide you with on-going support and care. To find out more about how this team can support you in your transition (or sooner), reach out directly via PL.Futures@uksportsinstitute.co.uk or speak to your PL practitioner for an introduction.
British Elite Athlete Association (BEAA)
The BEAA is the representative body of Britain's World Class Programme athletes. You are automatically a member from the moment you join the programme until six months after your funding ends.
The BEAA stands with you throughout your time on the programme, providing independent and confidential support and guidance on any questions or concerns you may have as an elite athlete. They also represent you within the high-performance system and elevate your voice through the Athlete Advisory Forum.
You can access their support for free via email: support@britisheliteathletes.org, their website: britisheliteathletes.org, or through their Facebook and Instagram direct messages.
HEALTH AND WELLBEING
Athlete Medical Scheme
As an athlete your physical and mental health are critically important. Therefore, we make sure that you have access to some of the best medical care. Your medical cover is provided via the Athlete Medical Scheme throughout your time on programme and until your last Athlete Performance Award payment date.
Need continued cover?
For any existing medical claims, the Athlete Medical Scheme cover will continue for a maximum of three months after the month your funding ends. Any treatments pre-authorised by the AMS Manager (AMS@teamgb.com), will need to be completed within this three-month extension.
No new claims can be opened within this 3-month extension period. If your pre-authorised treatment is postponed and the rearranged date is outside this 3-month window, please contact the AMS Manager as soon as possible to ensure the rearranged treatment will be covered.
To discuss your options of continued medical cover, and to obtain a no obligation quote, please contact Melissa Jenkins at melissa.jenkins@towergate.co.uk or on 0118 912 5966.
The offer is available three months beyond your last Athlete Performance Award payment date (and premiums must be backdated where necessary to give continuation of cover).
Sporting Chance
Eventually there'll be a time when you're no longer a nominated or funded athlete. To you support you through this transition away from a UK Sport programme you're entitled to access mental health support from Sporting Chance, for two years after leaving your programme. This service is offered at no cost to you and is confidential. This service should not replace existing treatment plans (e.g., those delivered through the NHS)
Online: SportingChanceClinic.com/Get-Support
Email: Support@SportingChanceClinic.com
Call: +44(0)7780 008877
LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT
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The Learning Arena
You can get access to a range of personal and professional development resources on an online platform called The Learning Arena. This includes The Core Offer which sits alongside Athlete Mental Health, Athlete and Beyond and The Athlete Creator Playbook. We've also added a programme curated to develop Athlete Leadership Skills and resources which lift the lid on the Financial Basics specifically for you as an athlete.
Courses and modules will be added to The Learning Arena, a learning platform by UK Sport. Access can also be provided to you for up to two years post funding.
If you would like access to the Learning Arena, please email: Athlete.Support@uksport.gov.uk
Please use the subject line - Learning Arena sign-up - and tell us your name and sport when emailing us.
COMMUNITY AND CONNECTION
British Elite Athlete Association (BEAA) Alumni community
You can join the BEAA's Athlete community Network, a private LinkedIn group that allows elite British sportspeople to maintain a lifelong connection with their fellow athletes and the high-performance system. You can share stories, updates, opportunities and network with current and former athletes who are building new careers in their lives after sport.
Any athlete who has been a member of a World Class Programme can join the Athlete Community Network and be a part of the athlete community for life. Sign up for free.
OTHER SERVICES AND SUPPORT
You can contact your relevant Performance Lifestyle Team:
UKSI Performance Lifestyle: PL.Futures@uksportsinstitute.co.uk
Sport Scotland: susan.elms@sisport.com
Sport Wales: zoe.gardner@sport.wales
Sport Northern Ireland: info@sportni.net
Support from your sport
For information on any other support services you can access whilst being a funded high-performance athlete or when you leave, please contact your National Governing Body.
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