SPORTING achievement in the city will be recognised in the Active York Sports Awards, which are being launched today in partnership with The Press.

Active York – the city’s sport and active leisure partnership working to encourage people to be more active more often – will stage an awards dinner at the University of York on Wednesday, April 9, and nominations opened today.

The award categories will include Young Male Sportsperson, Young Female Sportsperson, Young Disabled Sportsperson, Team/Club Award, Student Sportsperson of the Year, Sportsman, Sportswoman, Disabled Sportsperson, Young Sportsperson of the Year, Sportsperson of the Year, Coach/ Volunteer Award, Active School Award and Active Workplace.

The awards, which will feature chairman of the Football Association and Chancellor of University of York, Greg Dyke as guest speaker, are designed to recognise the achievements and contributions of the city’s sporting community.

Keith Morris, acting chair of Active York, said: “Active York is working with all sectors of York’s community to promote the role that sport and active leisure can play in developing safer, stronger and more culturally-rich communities.

“The Active York Sports Awards 2014 are an ideal opportunity to celebrate the achievements of those involved in sport in the city.

“It is also a chance to increase awareness of Active York and its role in providing support and opportunities, through the city’s sporting infrastructure with the wide ranging clubs, facilities and events that take place within it.”

Coun Sonja Crisp, City of York Council’s cabinet member for leisure, culture and tourism, said: “The Active York board is really excited about the forthcoming awards evening, and I would like to encourage the people of York to make nominations for people from their sports clubs and communities.

“We know there are some dedicated and hardworking volunteers in the sporting community as well as some very talented athletes who Active York would like to see recognised at the Active York Sport Awards.”

Nominations are now open and further details of the award criteria, as well as details on how to nominate, can be found by visiting www.activeyork.org or by emailing sportandactiveleisure@york.gov.uk to request a nomination form.

Nominations close at noon February 27, 2014.

Awards will be judged by members of the Active York board, which includes sporting partners from across the city. The leading nominees in each category will be invited to attend the Active York Sports Awards dinner.

The dinner in the Roger Kirk Centre is open to the general public and tickets are priced at £40 per person, or £300 for a table of eight, which includes a pre-dinner drinks reception, a three-course meal, entry to the awards ceremony and an opportunity to hear FA chairman Dyke speak.

To book tickets, visit activeyork.wordpress.com, email sportandactiveleisure@york.gov.uk or phone 01904 553377.


What is Active York?

ACTIVE York is the city’s sport and active leisure partnership and is working to encourage people to be more active more often.

The Active York board is made up of members representing City of York Council, higher and further education, the city’s professional clubs, community sports clubs and the voluntary sector.

Active York aims to help the people of York be more aware of the health benefits of physical activity and to ensure coaching and development opportunities exist for people in the city to improve their performance and to enable them to compete at the highest level.


Fund for the gifted

As part of Active York’s commitment to supporting the city’s talented athletes, its recognising achievement group is continuing to provide financial grants through its Fund For The Gifted scheme.

The most recent recipients of the grant scheme will be recognised at the Active York Sports Awards Dinner.

Fund For The Gifted grants are available to any young people who live, attend a school or train in York. Grants are available in the following areas: travel to regional, national or international training camps, training events or competitions; specialist coaching; sports injury and rehabilitation; sports science support, equipment and sports clothing.

The fund aims to assist young talented athletes to achieve their full potential in sport through the provision of financial support.

The Fund For The Gifted is open to all athletes under the age of 19 who are competing at district level or above and can clearly demonstrate how a grant would help to enhance their performance potential. All applications are supported by a written declaration from a coach, school or national governing body representative.

The applications state the athlete’s current level of performance, the performance potential and how a grant would support the athlete’s development.