Team Sheffield Brings Home Gold!
Team Sheffield brings home Gold at Sport Gives Back Awards
Team Sheffield takes a lap of honour at the Sport Gives Back Awards, sprinting to victory for Dame Kelly Holmes Trust to bring home the Community Partnership Impact Award to the city.
Returning for the first time since 2020, the ITV-filmed Sport Gives Back Awards recognise the power of sport to change lives. Hosted at Cadogan Hall, Chelsea, on February 28th, the glitzy ceremony attracted an audience of sporting legends assembled to reward the fantastic work of charities, organisations, and individuals nationwide for their enthusiasm and dedication to using the power of sport as a catalyst for change.
A new award for 2024, the Community Partnership Impact Award, recognises the wide-reaching impact of a partnership born to make a sustainable difference to the South Yorkshire community. Dame Kelly Holmes presented the award to a star-studded audience, including Sir Mo Farah, Lawrence Dallaglio, Frank, and Christine Lampard.
The nation will be able to witness Dame Kelly Holmes Trust’s proud moment when the Sport Gives Back Awards are broadcast on ITV on Sunday, March 24 at 10:15 pm
Sponsored by The Co-operative Bank, the Sport Gives Back Awards is the brainchild of former international athlete Connie Henry MBE. She said:
“Sport changed my life as a teenager. It gave me the stability, focus and opportunity I wouldn’t otherwise have had.”
Dame Kelly Holmes, Founder of Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, enjoyed the evening and was full of thanks to partners Westfield Health:
“The difference we are making in Sheffield is real! I was delighted to present the Community Partnership Impact Award to Team Sheffield and would like to take this opportunity to thank our partners, Westfield Health, as without their support and the partnership network created, we would not be able to be champions in the corner of the region’s young people.”
In winning the award, Dame Kelly Holmes Trust's on Track to Achieve programme with Westfield Health was honoured for the positive impact the partnership has had on over 300 young people throughout Sheffield, building their resilience and improving their well-being and self-esteem.
Steve Purdham, Chair of Westfield Health, received the award along with athlete mentors James Kirton and Paul Broadbent from Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, and representatives from Fir Vale, one of the 12 Sheffield schools benefitting from the programme. When asked why businesses should commit to supporting local young people, Steve commented:
“For us it’s just the right thing to do – it’s about giving back, but also investing in a sustainable future for the community. Team Sheffield has proven in the Sheffield region that we can do this, and we encourage other regions to get involved.”
Dame Kelly Holmes Trust's partnership with Westfield Health launched in 2021; now in year three, On Track to Achieve is delivered in 12 local secondary schools and local businesses, including Mott Macdonald have added their support, to put athletes' shoulder to shoulder with young people, driving home positivity and inspiring mentorship so that young people can realise their potential.
Now entering its third year, the partnership shapes futures. It previously brought in an additional £50,000 in funding to the city for 1:1 mentoring through the Youth Endowment Fund and its ongoing commitment to partnering with local businesses that share the Trust’s vision to support local young people.
Fabian, a student at Fir Vale School participated in the On Track to Achieve programme and was there to accept the award; he explains how working with athlete mentor Paul boosted his confidence:
“At the start, I had a lot of anger issues, and my mentor helped me manage those feelings through sports – he helped me support myself and others.”
During a 2023 visit to the On Track to Achieve programme at the English Institute of Sport, Oliver Coppard, South Yorkshire Mayor, commented:
“The type of South Yorkshire that we want to build allows everyone to make a career and a life that they love, and that’s why I am so pleased to see the work Dame Kelly Holmes Trust is doing here in our region. The Trust is doing the work to give young people in South Yorkshire the opportunity to see exactly what excellence looks like.”
Sheffield is one of England's 20% most deprived unitary authorities, with 23% of children living in low-income families. * 50% of the schools involved in the programme are in the country's top 5% of most deprived wards. More than 80% of the young people supported live in the country's 40% most deprived areas.