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What is the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme?
The Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme, or TASS as it is better known, is a government-funded programme that represents a unique partnership between sport and higher and further education.  

TASS is about developing talent today for sporting success tomorrow.

TASS bridges the gap in sport’s talent development pathway between junior representative sport and world-class levels for our most talented 16 to 25 year old sportspeople.

The TASS programme has been created to help hundreds fulfil their sporting potential by maintaining a sensible balance between academic life or employment whilst training and competing as a performance athlete.

Sir Steve Redgrave CBE, five times Olympic Champion said: “I know how difficult it is to develop in your sport to the highest levels whilst undertaking academic studies or a career.  This exciting new scheme provides our most promising future Olympians with top quality sporting services and access to good quality training facilities.”  

Who is eligible for TASS?

There are two ways in which TASS can help talented sportspeople in England:

• TASS Scholarships are for 18 to 25 year olds (extended upper age limit of 35 for scholar with a disability) who are undertaking higher or further education; and
  
• TASS Bursaries are for 16 to 19 years olds (extended upper age limit of 35 for bursar with a disability) who are undertaking further education or have left education to pursue a career.

What sports does TASS support?
There are 47 sports that are eligible for TASS, of which 15 are disability sports.  

They are:

What support do TASS athletes receive?
TASS athletes that are awarded a scholarship will receive sporting services to the value of £3,000, and those awarded a bursary will receive sporting services to the value of £1,000.

Sport’s national governing bodies design a customised package of core sporting services for their TASS athletes comprising, for example, coaching, sports medicine, sports science, strength and conditioning, and lifestyle management.  TASS athletes will also have access to good quality training facilities.

Who provides the sporting services to TASS athletes?

TASS operates across England through nine regional consortia.  Each consortium comprises several higher and further education institutions that work together to provide a package of sporting services to TASS scholars and bursars in their region.  There are currently over 90 educational establishments across England delivering sporting services on behalf of the programme.

How are TASS athletes identified?
Most stars of the future are known by their national governing bodies and already receive support to develop in their sport, and it is therefore these bodies that are in the best position to select athletes for a TASS award.  TASS athletes are also identified from other sources, including nominations to governing bodies from schools, colleges, and universities.

Who do I contact about applying for a TASS award?
In the first instance, you should check that you, or the person you are nominating, meets the eligibility criteria in respect of age and sport.  You should then approach your sport’s national governing body.  Contact details for the governing bodies and eligibility criteria can be found on the TASS website at www.tass.gov.uk

What else can you tell me about TASS?
A TASS bursary or scholarship is made annually for the period 1 August to 31 July.  Providing that the sport’s governing body recommends an award, support can continue for more than one year.  Funding is paid directly to the service provider and not to the TASS athlete.

Governing bodies also monitor and regularly assess the performance of TASS athletes to ensure that they make full use of the services and facilities provided for them in order to fully develop as an athlete.  

How can I find out more about TASS?
More information can be found on the TASS website at www.tass.gov.uk, or you can write, fax, or telephone the office of the TASS National Manager at:

Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme
University of Northumbria
Sport Development Centre
Coach Lane
Benton
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE7 7XA

Tel.  0191 215 6567
Fax. 0191 215 6262

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