The Ron Pickering Memorial Fund is now accepting applications for 2016 athlete grants

UK athletes aged 15-23 can now apply for Ron Pickering Memorial Fund (RPMF) annual grants for 2016, with the application process open until November 29, 2015.

A record number of talented young British athletes received more than 40,000 in grants from the RPMF in 2015, with 185 athletes from 105 different clubs benefitting.

The RPMF is the UK s leading charity devoted to supporting young talented British athletes. Since inception in 1991 the Fund has raised and awarded over 1.5 million in small but significant grants to over 2000 future stars, including all of the London 2012 Olympic athletics medallists.

Over two thirds of the British athletics Olympic teams in 2008 and 2012 had at some stage of their careers received support from the Fund, helping the recipients make the difficult transition from junior to senior level through support for equipment, specialist coaching or travel and importantly helping build the athletes confidence and self esteem through recognition.

Previous beneficiaries of an annual award include Greg Rutherford, Christine Ohuruogu, Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis-Hill, Sophie Hitchon, Holly Bradshaw, Charlie Grice, Morgan Lake and many more.

“Getting support from the Ron Pickering Memorial fund as a youngster gave me the belief that I could go out and achieve my best,” Ohuruogu has said of the Fund.

“It was such an uplifting feeling to know that someone out there, who I hadn t yet met, was willing to help me on my journey. They had that small belief that I could go out there and do something.”

Applications should be made using the online form available on the RPMF website. The 2016 application process closes on Sunday November 29, 2015.

Award selection takes place in early December and the announcement of the grant recipients will be made by early January 2016.

The Fund receives a large number of applications and the grants committee looks closely at every application. A decision is made on the basis of not only talent but also qualities such as need and continued progress within the sport.

Funds are limited but the RPMF tries to help as many athletes as reasonably possible within its funding limits and guidelines. To apply for a 2016 RPMF athlete grant visit rpmf.org.uk/apply-grant where you will find further details and the application form.

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