TALENTED athletes across Ealing and Hounslow are invited to apply for the UK’s largest independent athlete support programme, the GLL Sport Foundation Awards, before February 20.

The range of support includes financial help, access to sport facilities, physiotherapy, lifestyle mentoring and mental health aid.

Now in its 15th year, the GLL Sport Foundation has so far contributed more than £14m and distributed 26,000 awards to young athletes.

The scheme is run by charitable social enterprise GLL and a number of sponsors and expects to award £1.2m in 2024.

All successful applicants will be given access to the 250 sport and leisure centres across the country operated by GLL under its “Better” trading brand.

Applications opened on 20 December 2023 and are available until 20 February 2024.

Previous holders of GSF awards include Darryl Neita (athletics), Anna Hursey (table tennis), Charlotte Worthington (BMX), Alex Yee (triathlon), boxers Anthony Joshua, Aiden and Michaela Walsh, divers Tom Daley, Matty Lee and Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix, as well as swimmers Tully Kearney, Susie Rodgers, Tom Dean and Ellie Simmons.

The majority of athletes are under 21 and the largest cohort is under 18. Across the programme, 87% of athletes receive no other funding or support.

Applications are made via the website portal, www.gllsportfoundation.org