Uplands Infant School are excited to be hosting an inspirational workshop with English Championship Gold Medal Gymnast Winston Powell. Winston 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!
Uplands Infant School are a caring, warm and truly inclusive school that takes account of the needs of children from all backgrounds for them to become the best possible person they can be ahead of their future.
Who's Coming?
How I Started:
I started gymnastics in pre-school when I lived in Bristol. I was two years old at the time, and my mum was a coach at the club I was training at alongside my sister. I joined an elite group around the age of four which is a group that takes their training a little more seriously than the recreational group. I ended up moving to Birmingham when I was eight years old and have been training at that gym ever since. At this time I was competing in friendly competitions but then when I moved to Birmingham I began competing in larger and more competitive tournaments when I moved to Birmingham.
My Greatest Achievement:
My greatest achievement is becoming the U18 English all around champion in 2023. I was competing in the English Championships which has been my most successful competition to date as I also earned a gold medal in the floor and high bar, a silver medal in the rings, and a bronze medal in the pommel horse too! This allowed me to be selected for the Junior World Championships in 2023 too which was held in Turkey! In this I qualified 7th in the all-around and made two other finals.
My Greatest Challenge:
In 2019 I had a string of really bad competition results which culminated in the 2019 National Finals. After this I was kicked out of the GB squad, and then following that there was the global pandemic meaning I couldn’t train or get into the gym which meant that I lost my way a little bit and couldn’t see a way back into the position I was once in. I was aiming for the next competition in 2021 where I came fifth and was able to secure my spot again. A lot of this challenge was mental, I ended up looking at it objectively and analysing the outcome of two different trajectories, one where I could coast and continue the way I was going, and one where I put myself into gear and began pushing. I’m glad that I had a good circle of people around me to support my efforts in getting back into the competitive sphere.
My Hobbies:
Outside of gymnastics I enjoy spending time with friends and family outside of the gym. Of course my mum and sister are both coaches so I see them in the gym, but it’s good to spend time with them outside of that environment too! Sometimes I will also spend time with the people on my team outside of training which I think is good to bring us together as a team, which helps with motivation and morale in the gym!
My Future Aspirations:
In the future I hope to compete in the English and British Championships at the beginning of next year, and I hope to be qualified for a senior international sooner rather than later! After this I’d like to compete in a senior major international competition like the European Championships, but going further than that I have my sights set on LA 2028 or Brisbane 2032 Olympics!
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.
Uplands Infant School will be receiving an inspirational visit from English Championship Gold Medal Gymnast Winston Powell, on the 7th of November 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?
Uplands Infant School is promoting health and wellbeing throughout the school and with the help of a visit from Winston Powell, 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.
Uplands Infant 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 English Championship Gold Medal Gymnast Winston Powell, to raise funds for key resources for Uplands Infant 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.