Evolve To Thrive Off To A Great Start

The recent launch of the Evolve to Thrive programme in partnership with Switch to Play Foundation was a great success with 37 athletes, transitioning from elite level sport, attending the first in-person event in Birmingham in February.

This programme, funded by Jacobs Futura Foundation, has been designed by the team with lived experience from Dame Kelly Holmes Trust and Switch the Play to help athletes moving from sport to the next stage of their career. Whether it’s those athletes who are still competing but looking to the future, those who have recently retired or those who have been retired for a few years – the 12 month programme covers a range of topics ranging from identity, emotional wellbeing, financial planning and management and much more. The participating athletes are also matched with a one-to-one coach who they’ll work with throughout the duration of the year.

“It’s not just about getting them a new career, it’s about being comfortable in who you are”

Day in, day out elite athletes are programmed to working towards the next goal, the next competition – invariably their daily routine is planned, structured and supported by a team – so when that sporting career comes to an end, making the next step can be daunting.

Olympian Adam Whitehead, Dame Kelly Holmes Trust’s Development and Curriculum Manager felt this all too well when he retired from swimming. During his career Adam spent 10 years at the top of the sport and won Commonwealth Gold, competing on the world stage, but when it was time to hang up his goggles, he struggled with his identity.

Talking about his transition out of sport, Adam said: “Athletes have a narrow identity and when their career comes to an end, they may not see their skills and where that can take them next.” Continuing he said: “My personal experience, was that swimming created an attached self-esteem to what I did. If I swam fast, I felt like a good person, if I didn’t, I didn’t feel great.”

Group photo at the Evolve to Thrive kick-off session

Adam has spent over 10 years at the Trust, and is a longstanding athlete mentor delivering our programmes to young people across the country. He is passionate about training athletes and helping them in their transition: “It’s a role that I love, and I get to meet some fantastic athletes and it's been a real privilege to help train them and see them delivering programmes.”

Through our collaboration with Switch to Play and Jacobs Futura Foundation Adam will be delivering a best-in-class programme to help athletes find what their next step might be.

“The programme helps athletes realise they’re not alone. The topics will help them understand who they are, what they’re about and what they’d like their life to be like moving forward,” Adam said.

What can athletes expect on the programme?

This year-long programme delves into a wide range of different topics to help athletes discover what they want to do post professional sport.

In their monthly workshops they will look at finding their purpose, values, building stronger connections, the importance of financial planning and management, building confidence and much more. For those who wish to work with young people in the future, there is the opportunity to join our More than Medals training programme as part of their participation in Evolve to Thrive.

Understanding and feeling part of a strong community of athletes experiencing the transition from sport to the next stage together is an important element of the programme, It will be delivered virtually to allow access from across the UK, as well as offering regional meet ups. Adam said: “There will be some face-to-face regional meetings as well to help build those connections among the athletes.”

The programme’s personal coaches, who will work one-to-one with the athletes, are sourced from Dame Kelly Holmes Trust’s athlete mentor team, Switch the Play and Jacobs Futura Foundation.

Liz Cann said: “I’m really enjoying being one of the coaches on the Evolve to Thrive programme. It’s a real opportunity to support athletes transitioning out of sport and into their next career as smoothly as possible whilst crafting a new pathway that’s as fulfilling as their sports career was.”

Henry Cookey who also is part of the programme and Dame Kelly Holmes Trust athlete mentor, said: “It’s great to be part of the Evolve to Thrive programme. I had a really tough time going through the transition from elite sport when I retired, so having the opportunity to help other athletes is really rewarding.”