Sport Gives Back Awards

Aim

Sport changes lives, but those who work behind the scenes rarely get the thanks they deserve. Help us to celebrate them. What a goal!

On March 5 2020, the Sport Gives Back Awards will celebrate the amazing individuals and organisations who change lives through sport at an inaugural ceremony in London. The awards will shine a spotlight on the invaluable work taking place up and down the country.

What we are raising funds for:

Every penny raised through this campaign will come to Track Academy, to help us deliver the Sport Gives Back Awards ceremony.

Find out more on the Sport Gives Back website

At the awards...

Why the Sport Gives Back Awards are important

Nothing in life is easy. But through sport, individuals are given vital skills and pathways to new opportunities. Sport helps them gain confidence, along with a healthy mind and a healthy body. 

The people who inspire and encourage others to take part in sport receive so little recognition. They change lives every day, but who ever really says "Thank you" for their efforts? Who recognises the everyday work of coaches, volunteers, charities and clubs that are helping people turn their lives around through sport?

At Track Academy, we believe in the power of sport to change lives. We also believe that those who help others succeed deserve recognition for their tireless efforts, boundless energy and inspirational approaches.

That is why Sport Gives Back was born, and that is why we need your help to put on the show of the year!

What you can do: 

Please support Track Academy and our charity partners to deliver this awards show. A small donation will go a long way to making this wonderful event a success.

Every donation means the world to us, but the more you can give, the more you can receive! Claim one of our incentives, with all funds going to our cause.

You can also fundraise for our cause by clicking the 'Start Fundraising' button.

Share our page with your crowd on social media. It is when our network becomes your network that we can make great things happen.

We really appreciate your support!

About Track Academy:

The Sport Gives Back Awards is a project run by Track Academy. The charity helps disadvantaged young people in London realise they are more than the circumstances they are born into, by helping them to fulfil their true potential and develop as positive members of their community. We do this through athletics training, education sessions and mentoring.

We provide an environment in which young people build confidence, acquire new skill sets, affirm self-value, support each other, plan their future, positively address inequality, gain a sense of belonging and become role models.   

This is an example of how our work makes a difference:

James Baxter (not his real name) joined Track Academy at the age of 15. At that time, he was getting in a lot of trouble at school and was on the verge of a custodial sentence for his extra-curricular activities.

He was an angry young man and found it difficult to control his temper, but it was clear to see that he was talented athletically.

The London Sports Trust gave him a grant to support his athletic goals, and over the years his personality started to change through his training, mentoring and study sessions at Track Academy. 

He enrolled into college full-time, then moved onto applying to university alongside studying to be a qualified Level 2 Athletics Coach. James was even allowed the honour of returning to his secondary school for an athletics demonstration at their sports day. 

He also did an inspiring presentation to the children about attitude and behaviour and how it is possible to turn your life around. His ex-teachers were flabbergasted at the change they saw in him and praised Track Academy for helping him turn his life around. His head of PE said: “Without Track Academy, James would not have made it out of school.” James himself says, “…if I wasn’t at Track Academy, I would probably be in jail by now.”

James is now a Track Academy Alumni Athlete who still meets with his Track Academy coach and mentor as he navigates a professional career in sport.  

Track Academy creates real and lasting change.  

By focusing on education, employability, life skills, wellbeing and self esteem of our members and providing them with real opportunities to create an exciting future for themselves, Track Academy has proven impact after just 12 months.

This project successfully funded on 18th February 2020