Westhaven School are excited to be hosting an inspirational workshop with World Youth Discus Throwing Champion James Tomlinson. James 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!
Westhaven School purpose is to ensure that all their learners receive a personalised education in order for them to increase self-esteem, reach full potential and emerge to become valued and valuable members of the community.
Who's Coming?
How I Started
I started throwing discus at 13 after winning the county championship. To train, I was throwing pebbles on the beach with my dad. After the championships, my dad bought me my first discus and I started training at Pembrokeshire Harriers, my local athletics club. In 2014 I won my first Wales Schools Championship which led me to compete in my first international tournament, SIAB where I won my first gold medal. I broke the U15 Welsh record at the end of 2014 in Wrexham, but in 2015 I experienced my first major injury when I collapsed 2 vertebrae while training. Unfortunately, this wasn’t picked up on at the time and I made it worse by continuing to compete. Despite this injury, I managed to qualify for the World Youth Championships but I wasn’t old enough to compete!
My Greatest Achievement
Having recovered- 2016 was my first breakthrough year where I qualified and competed in the Youth Championships in Georgia and went on to break the U17 Welsh record in Swansea. In 2017 I continued this success by breaking the U18 British record with a throw of 63.48m. I also achieved a silver medal in the Youth Commonwealth Games in the Bahamas. In 2018 I competed at the World Youth Championships in Finland alongside competing in GB several times. In 2019 I was co-captain of the GB junior teams for the season. I then finished 5th at the u23 throwing cup, second at the Halle Throws Cup in Germany as well as 5th at the European Junior Championships.
My Podcast
My Greatest Challenge
Throughout my junior career, I had to manage my back injury, which impacted my training and my competition throws. I was told by a doctor to consider changing sports however that was not an option. Since the age of 18, I suffered from mental health problems and was diagnosed with clinical depression, and in 2021 I lost a parent to cancer. Recovering is an ongoing process, but I have recently managed to get back on my feet and continue my career.
My Hobbies
I love Photography, I have a drone which I enjoy taking out around the beaches of Tenby. I have also played the guitar since I was 8 years old, and enjoy playing anything from blues to classic rock. I also love spending time with animals, especially dogs!
My Future goals
I would love to become British Champion and an Olympian as well as win other major championships. It would be amazing to increase the profile of the sport like Jessica Ennis or Mo Farah.
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 peoples education/experience. Professional athletes in need of support are the only other beneficiaries from the remaining 40%. Sports For Champions is an audited organisation 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, [pro] 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 35hr 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 realise their potential. Many pro athletes are unsponsored, lose support, or cannot find it.
Sports For Champions offers schools the benefit of an additional funds to go towards resources/facilities, whilst helping athletes with the funds required to sustain their journey with a contribution towards training and competition fees, medical costs, equipment, and more.
Westhaven School will be receiving an inspirational visit from Youth Discus Throwing Champion James Tomlinson on the 17th of May 2024 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?
Westhaven School is promoting health and wellbeing throughout the school and with the help of a visit from James, this will be enhanced across all year groups and staff, they are also focussing on encouraging diversity and raising the aspirations of the pupils through sport.
Westhaven 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 Youth Discus Throwing Champion James Tomlinson and to raise funds for key resources for Westhaven 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.