Thousands more young people on the margins of
society are to benefit from a programme that uses the power of
sport to turn their lives around, thanks to National Lottery
investment from Sport England.
Get on Track was set up by double Olympic gold
medalist Kelly Holmes to help disadvantaged young people develop
the skills and confidence to get their lives on track and find a
job.
Get on Track’s many success stories include
Andrew Lunnon from Reading. Born with Strabimus, an eye condition
that leaves the sufferer with crossed eyes, Andrew was bullied from
a young age and ended up dropping out of education.
Depressed and overweight, Andrew did not want
to face the world before he got involved with the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy
Trust. Andrew said: “I left school early with few friends, no
qualifications and lacked confidence. When the chance came along to
meet Dame Kelly, I was really excited but when I arrived I got
really intimated by all the people wearing suits and decided to
leave. If it hadn’t been for the mentors Neil (Danns)
and Adam (Whitehead) convincing me to stay, I never would have
gotten the confidence turn my life around and get my personal
fitness qualification.”
His new found confidence and belief in himself
allowed him to face the toughest challenge of his young life when
he was diagnosed with a benign brain tumour in 2012. Andrew
continues: “If it hadn’t been for this programme I wouldn’t have
been able to deal with the tumour and subsequent operation with the
same level of optimism and resilience I did.”
The operation not only removed the tumour, it
also fixed the alignment issue in his right eye. Now 24, Andrew has
fully recovered from surgery and has secured a coaching position
with Reading FC as well as volunteering with the Trust to help
others like him.
Many young people will now be able to follow
in Andrew’s footsteps because, following a successful pilot, Sport
England’s Board has approved £6.9 million of Lottery funding over
four years to expand Get on Track’s work into some of the most
disadvantaged communities across England.
Sport England Chief Executive, Jennie Price,
said: “Andrew’s story is a great example of sport’s ability to
improve lives. Through our support for Get on Track, we want to
help many more young people to take charge of their lives and turn
things around for the better.”
Minister for Sport, Hugh Robertson, said:
“Sport can make a great contribution to young people’s lives –
improving their health, well-being and confidence. The expansion of
Dame Kelly Holmes’ ‘Get on Track’ will benefit young people up and
down the country and give them a sense of direction and
purpose.”
Get on Track uses sport and physical activity
to engage young people aged between 16 and 25 alongside three
months of intensive mentoring from world class athletes. With
support from their mentors, the young people plan, develop and
deliver volunteering projects in their local community.
Double Olympic gold medallist, Dame Kelly
Holmes, said: “Thanks to the commitment and belief in the work of
the DKH Legacy Trust by Sport England, my charity will be able to
continue to help and support young people through our ‘Get on
Track’ programme.
“I know first-hand just how much sport can
turn your life round. If it hadn’t been for my PE teacher
believing in and encouraging me I may never have ended up where I
did. Through Get on Track I want to provide young people with
the same support and encouragement to use sport to change their
life for the better.”
By building their self-confidence, self-esteem
and interpersonal skills, Get on Track helps young people get fit
for work and a fit for life.
Since its launch, the project has supported
291 disadvantaged young people, with 241 of them completing the
mentoring programme and graduating. Two-thirds of the young people
- who were previously unemployed - have gone on to education,
employment or training.
2,857 people in local communities have
benefitted from the volunteering projects run by the young
people.