07 May 2014  

In conjunction with the Futures Programme, British Athletics has announced the Para Futures programme athletes and coaches who will benefit from support in 2014.

The Futures Programme – which underpins the World Class Performance Programme (WCPP) – was created five years ago to provide more targeted support for young talented athletes and their coaches. 

The programme focuses on athletes who show the potential to ultimately achieve future success at World Championships or Olympic/Paralympic Games, have the potential to be selected to the WCPP within two years and allows flexibility towards athletes who are deemed an exceptional case for support.

Last year marked the launch of a pilot Para Futures programme with 2014 WCPP athletes Laura Sugar (coach: Femi Akinsanya) and Jonathan Broom-Edwards (Fuzz Ahmed) both being part of the programme. Sugar, who has played international hockey for Wales reached two sprint finals at last year’s IPC World Championships in Lyon, while Broom-Edward marked his international debut with a silver medal in the F44 high jump.

Futures & Talent Manager Katie Jones said: “Last year we saw a number of debutants medal at their first major championships in Lyon, which shows the growth that we’re seeing in para-athletics. The Futures programme helps us support and develop the next crop of athletes coming through the system with the aim of propelling them on to the world stage like we saw with Jonathan and Laura in Lyon.”

By providing athletes with flexible financial assistance and medical support, as well as coach development funding, the programme helps athletes and their coaches follow in the footsteps of previous Futures athletes such as Jonathan and Laura on the Paralympic side, and Robbie Grabarz (Ahmed), Holly Bleasdale (Scott Simpson), Andrew Pozzi (Malcolm Arnold), Emelia Gorecka (Mick Woods) and Dina Asher-Smith (John Blackie) on the Olympic side.

2014 Para Futures Athletes and Coaches:

Kare Adenegan T34 (Job King)

Georgina Hermitage T37 (Paul MacGregor)

Abbie Hunnisett F32 (Camilla Thrush)

Maria Lyle T35 (Henry Gray)

Pani Mamuneas F40 (Shelley Holroyd)

For more information on the Para Futures programme, please contact Katie Jones kjones@britishathletics.org.uk