The Flamstead Village School Fundraiser

Aim

At Sports For Champions UK, we don’t just create dreams – we build champions. Embark on this transformative journey with us today.

Flamstead Village School are excited to be hosting an inspirational workshop with Nikita Setchell. Nikita needs your help to raise funds for vital training, medical and competition costs. This money will also help your school and other athletes across the country, find out more below!

The Flamstead Village School provide a safe, caring and nurturing environment in which each child can flourish as an aspirational and resilient learner. They ensure equality of opportunity so enquiring minds can develop and reach their potential, both personally and academically with confidence and positive self-image. They aim to promote positive behaviour and conduct by developing strong values within the pupils at the school.

Who's Coming?

How I started:

I went to my first competition at six weeks old! My parents both competed in canoeing, so it was inevitable that I would follow in their footsteps. I took part in my first competition aged eight, and as a family we moved closer to the white water course in Nottingham when I was 14. I’ve always loved the water, and competed to a high level in swimming too but made the decision to focus on paddling to enable me to reach my potential.

My Greatest Achievement:

My greatest achievement was becoming back to back U23 world champion. I was nervous competing because at the first world championship in Kayak Cross, at the time it was a fairly new sport and very different to the traditional canoe slalom. When I won my first world title, I was undisputed champion, winning all of the races. The following year I was more nervous because I knew I was the one to beat. After a hard first round time trial, I fought back and won every head to head round and became two-time World Champion.

My Greatest Challenge:

My greatest challenge has been overcoming the disappointment of not making the Olympic team for the Paris 2024 Games. Following that, having to find the motivation to continue training after this was difficult but my coach and I wanted to process the lessons and come back stronger for LA 2028!

My Hobbies:

Outside of kayaking I enjoy climbing and bouldering, along with doing DIY projects and baking too! I enjoy upcycling different things for my apartment and I’m also trying to set up my own individual design business for graphic design.

My Future Aspirations:

In the future I want to compete at the LA 2028 Olympics, and then in the short term I want to become the Senior World Champion, along with going to the Paris European Championships which will actually be held on the Paris 2024 course. Alongside that, I want to begin using my product design and manufacturing engineering degree to explore that industry.

Who are Sports For Champions?

Great news! Sports For Champions UK (CIC) will soon visit your school! Your young people have been invited to join a sponsored fitness circuit led by a Professional athlete, who will educate, enable, and empower participants with a view to inspiring them to be the champions of tomorrow.

While we're not all athletically inclined, we strongly encourage participation; all young people have talent and require inspiration to pursue their dreams - whatever they may be!

After 12 years of success, we have perfected our inspirational events, and they are guaranteed to deliver for your school and pupils!

Sports For Champions events are held in support of schools, which keep 60% of the funds raised to spend on resources that will enrich young people's education/experience. Professional athletes in need of support are the only other beneficiaries from the remaining 40%. Sports For Champions is an audited organization that is voluntarily registered with the Fundraising Regulator, meaning you can support the initiative with assurance.

What will happen on the day?

During the assembly, Sports For Champions athletes show medals and tell their story, hard work, lessons, and insights shared to capture the imagination of all and inspire healthier active lifestyles. Athletes discuss challenges on the road to success, with resilience, nutrition, diet, and dedication forming key topics. Fitness is essential for every young person’s general wellbeing in physical and mental health. It is also proven to be a strong booster of learning potential or brain power. By inspiring children as champions of tomorrow, Sports For Champions envision young people developing in all walks of life as healthy, active, community-minded participants in society.

Alongside Team Sports For Champions, athletes engage in invaluable work within local communities to support their training-related costs (e.g. physio/travel). Most world-class athletes train a rigorous 35-hour week and struggle to find reliable work that fits their schedule. This is how the funds we raise enable athletes and your school/club to realize their potential. Many pro athletes are unsponsored, lose support, or cannot find it.

Sports For Champions offers schools the benefit of additional funds to go towards resources/facilities, whilst helping athletes with the funds required to sustain their journey with an contribution towards training and competition fees, medical costs, equipment, and more.

Flamstead Village School will be receiving an inspirational visit from Nikita Setchell on the 23rd of June 2026 and we need your support!

The pupils will benefit from physical activity through our fitness circuit, an inspirational talk including medal display, and a Q&A session.

Where does the money go?

When parents and guardians offer their support to a Sports for Champions UK (CIC) fundraising event, they are nurturing not only their children's immediate environments but also the bright futures of many rising athletes. Here is a breakdown of how your contributions make a significant difference:

For each fundraising event, Sports For Champions looks to raise enough money to cover the costs that it takes to provide such an excellent service nationally. Once that goal is reached, surplus funds are allocated in a way that benefits both the school and our passionate athletes – 60% for the school’s continued growth and 40% contributing to the athlete fund.

At the core of the Sports For Champions UK (CIC) initiative is the Athlete Fund. Primarily, the fund aids schools in less economically privileged areas that might struggle with costs, ensuring that the administrative fee isn’t a barrier to vital opportunities. Additionally, it assists our dedicated athletes in moments of pressing need, whether it’s recovering from injuries, procuring advanced equipment, or embarking on warm-weather training camps. Our fundamental belief remains unwavering: no school should be compromised for its economic stance, and every promising athlete deserves a fair shot at excellence. Our commitment ensures no child or school is left behind due to circumstances beyond their control.

Challenges Athletes Face: Our partnering pro athletes and Team GB Olympians have a world of responsibilities on their shoulders. They juggle between a rigorous training schedule that demands over 35 hours a week and their personal commitments. This often leaves them with limited time and resources to focus on their careers, leading to financial constraints. Expenses for equipment, training, coaching, travel, and more pile up, making it a challenge for these athletes to perform at their best and represent Great Britain.

Why is this important?

Flamstead Village School is promoting health and wellbeing throughout the school, and with the help of a visit from Nikita Setchell, this will be enhanced across all year groups and staff. They are also focusing on encouraging diversity and raising the aspirations of the pupils through sport.

Flamstead Village School will benefit from the money raised as they will be able to provide new equipment, fund opportunities for the children, and more.

How can you help?

We're asking all parents to help make it a memorable event for the pupils with the help of Nikita Setchell, to raise funds for key resources for Flamstead Village School.

If you are a local business or a friend of the school and would like to contribute to help us get to our target, then please do make a donation and share our project as far as you can.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 23rd June 2026 at 8:00am