Up-and-coming athletes in West Berkshire are being given the chance to take their sporting careers to the next level with Everyone Active’s Sporting Champions scheme.
Now in its tenth year, the programme empowers aspiring athletes to achieve their full potential through access to state-of-the-art training facilities and mentoring support from Olympians and Paralympians.
Athletes over 16 will receive access to the You+ membership, designed to promote holistic health and wellbeing centred on individual needs.
Since its inception, Sporting Champions has elevated the careers of more than 6,000 athletes by providing them with free access to Everyone Active’s 230-plus leisure centres nationwide. These include Northcroft Leisure Centre and Lido, Hungerford Leisure Centre, Kennet Leisure Centre, Cotswold Sports Centre, Willink Leisure Centre, Downland Sports Centre and Lambourn Centre, all run in partnership with West Berkshire Council.
Olympic silver medallist and former world record holder Colin Jackson returns as the scheme’s Ambassador for 2026-27, working alongside a line-up of inspiring elite athletes who have starred on the Olympic and Paralympic stage. These sporting heroes will offer wisdom, guidance and expert advice, helping promising athletes through every stage of their sporting journeys.
“With the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on the horizon, I’m more excited than ever to support athletes of all ages and from all disciplines to achieve their dreams,” Colin Jackson said. “I’m passionate about nurturing young talent – the Sporting Champions scheme goes above and beyond in this mission.”
“We’re delighted to support up-and-coming athletes from West Berkshire on their journey to success,” Richard May, Everyone Active’s contract manager, said. “The scheme has supported thousands of athletes over the years, and we’re proud to be continuing this in 2026.”
“Such schemes play a vital role in supporting talent in our communities,” Nigel Foot, West Berkshire’s Executive Member for Culture, Leisure, Sport and Countryside, added. “This programme helps people from all backgrounds believe in what they can achieve.”
Click here for more information. You can keep up with the latest Sporting Champions news by following @easportingchamps on Instagram.
Meanwhile, Everyone Active has also launched its Community Champions scheme for 2026-27, which celebrates unsung heroes making a difference in West Berkshire. People involved in mentoring, promoting health and wellbeing, supporting inclusivity or leading environmental or cultural projects are urged to apply. Successful applicants will secure valuable use of facilities within their local leisure centres to help them carry out these projects.
The closing date for the Sporting Champions and the Community Champions schemes is Friday 20 March 2026.
