The second edition of the Powered by Purpose Programme, delivered by UK Sport in partnership with The True Athlete Project, is about to get under way.
Twenty-one athletes from a diverse range of sports and backgrounds will benefit from a six-month programme designed to empower them to use their platform as prominent sportspeople to make a difference to society while they are still competing.
Athletes from various Olympic and Paralympic sports, who are at differing stages of their competitive careers, will attend a series of workshops and mentoring sessions to learn how to use their voice and influence for the greater good.
Those taking part will hope to achieve the same levels of success as those enjoyed by the first cohort to complete a pilot version of the programme in 2022-23.
Every one of the participants said they now had greater confidence to make a difference on social issues, felt equipped with tools and resources to address social challenges, and believed their enhanced strengths would enable them to make a social impact.
Those outcomes align strongly with one of the key pillars of UK Sport’s current ten-year strategy, which is to Inspire Positive Change. UK Sport believes athletes can contribute in this way to a happier, prouder and more connected society.
The programme ensures that athletes develop as people as well as performers. They should move forward with a sense of autonomy as they use their platform to make an impact in a context that has meaning to them.
Para swimmer Tully Kearney, who was part of the first cohort, said: “The workshops and incredible guest speakers, as well as the other athletes on the course, really opened my eyes to how much we can actually use our platform to make worthwhile change and how powerful our voice can be.”
A fellow attendee, rower Imogen Grant, said: “What I hadn’t realised is how isolated sports can be from each other. Talking to others who are equally passionate about sport and other causes opened my eyes to how much we all care, and how much we can all help each other achieve."
The success of the first cohort to complete Powered by Purpose demonstrates how much social impact Olympic and Paralympic athletes can achieve, and adds to the value and viability of the investment made by the British public in elite sport in this country.
Dame Katherine Grainger, chair of UK Sport, said: “I’m delighted to welcome the second cohort of athletes to the Powered by Purpose programme. The success of the pilot programme, and those who took part in it, was a source of enormous pride to me and to everyone at UK Sport. It is brilliant to be partnering with fantastic team at The True Athlete Project to deliver this programme once again.
“It’s so encouraging to see that many athletes genuinely want to use their platform and influence to make a difference to social causes that matter to them.
“I wish the new group of athletes every success in their work on the programme, and look forward to watching them explore the positive social impact that is so important to us all.”
Laurence Halsted, Director of Mentoring at The True Athlete Project and Powered by Purpose Programme Lead, said: "We are always so excited to welcome a new group of athletes in one of our programmes, and this is particularly special because it so clearly represents the cultural shift that we want to see in performance sport.
"These are athletes who are absolutely committed to their sport but also want to make a positive impact on the world around them, and crucially they recognise that those two desires are not in opposition but are symbiotic."
Ellen Buttrick, para rowing athlete, said; “I joined the powered by purpose programme as I wanted to meet like minded athletes who aspire to deliver positive social change. I feel very privileged to represent my country at international competitions and to be supported to pursue my dream of competing at the Paralympic Games.
"I hope that through this programme I can develop my ideas and skillsets so that I can help even more people to have an equal and fair opportunity to reach their potential too.”
Vicky Kingstone, para archery athlete, said; “I am incredibly excited to have been accepted onto the second cohort of the Powered by Purpose Programme. I know that this unique collaboration between UK Sport and The True Athlete Project will help me develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to champion causes I feel passionate about, and to create a lasting impact, now and long after my archery career ends.”
Laura Gallagher, GB trampoline athlete, said; “I’m really excited to join the powered by purpose programme. Sport has an incredible ability to engage people and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to learn and: develop new skills that will help me to be as impactful as possible in driving positive change in areas I’m passionate about.”
Lewis Richardson, GB boxer, said; “ “I have always been keen to play a role within the community and be a positive role model - for young people especially - but I have never really had a structure to help me understand the best way to do this. I hope that Powered by Purpose will provide me with this and give me guidance and advice on ways that I can make a real change in the communities that matter to me.”
“The future generation in schools, particularly secondary, where kids are at that age where they can either get on the right or wrong path is what interests me. Being able to encourage and promote good social choices and values whether that’s friends, family, career, etc. is something I’m really keen to pursue."
Grace Harvey, para swimmer, said; "I’m really excited to be part of the programme."
"I applied because I’m really passionate about oral health and increasing education but I didn’t know where to start from when actioning and implementing social change. I hope to learn how to go about becoming a social change maker and translating my passions into something constructive that can actually enhance the lives of others."
Jake Woods, para rower, said; “Taking part in the powered by purpose programme is an amazing opportunity to understand how to use my platform as an athlete to activate change in areas and communities I’m passionate about.”
I’m incredibly excited to connect my sporting, personal and professional skills and aspirations to promote a more equal society, breaking down social, financial and cultural barriers preventing access to sport and to promote inclusion. The Powered by purpose programme will equip me with the tools and network to do so, and I can’t wait to get started.”
The full list of athletes who comprise the new cohort is as follows:
Jack Hodgson, British Judo
Kurts Adams Rozentals, British Canoeing
Isabel Constance Evans, British Canoeing
Grace Harvey, British Swimming
Lewis Richardson, GB Boxing
Amy Truesdale, GB Taekwondo
Floran Steeples, British Handball
Hannah Saunders, British Handball
Ethan Kirby, UK Athletics
Gina Aitken, British Curling
Bruce Mouat, British Curling
Jake Woods, British Rowing
Rowan McKellar, British Rowing
Ellen Buttrick, British Rowing
Laura Gallagher, British Gymnastics
Louis Rolfe, British Triathlon
Grace Balsdon, GB Hockey
Victoria Kingstone, Archery GB
Daisy Mumby, British Volleyball Federation
Maddy Anderson, Royal Yachting Association
Seonaid McIntosh, British Shooting