Talent Pathway reaps investment from Sport England

Sport England has awarded the University of East London (UEL) £615,000 in funding to support the development of young athletic talent through the East London Sport Talent Pathway (ELSTP) programme.

The funding builds on the foundation created by an initial £600,000 Sport England investment awarded to the University in 2020.

The East London Sport Talent Pathway is a tier-based service for young people who live in East London and are actively engaged in sport or who aspire to do so. The ELSTP provides holistic support to athletes aged 11 years old to 24 years old to develop their athletic potential.

The new funding will help to ensure that ELSTP can help develop young sporting talent across East London through 2027. Emphasis will be placed on offering assistance in diverse communities and helping young athletes who may experience challenges in reaching their potential. The barriers can be many and complex, and the programme is dedicated to tackling these for full equality of access and opportunity.

A core focus of ELSTP is building trust and communication across all stakeholders. It creates and extends strong, collaborative networks among clubs, families, community, and sector partners. It also highlights barriers to success for young talented athletes that require strategic, systemic oversight and change.

Hilary Lissenden, Assistant Chief Operating Officer, Sport, and Active Campus, said, 

As East London Sport’s offering to the whole community continues to grow and evolve, we see culturally diverse programmes like the East London Sport Talent Pathway as a lynchpin. Our Global Sport Strategy begins at home in east London, and we are proactive in offering services and training that positively impact the people who live in our community.” 

Phil Smith, Executive Director, Partnerships at Sport England, praised ELSTP for its progress and success to date.

He said, “We’re proud to continue our support and investment in the University of East London for their exceptional work. The programme’s early achievements reflect a shared commitment to promoting sport and nurturing talent across diverse communities. This partnership is a shining example of our intent to invest in work that makes a significant, positive impact on young athletes and the broader sporting landscape in England.”

ELSTP is unique in terms of holistic delivery. A clear difference from other athlete support interventions is the offer of 'Experience Days' where young people can explore a range of sports and activities. Targeted workshops for parents and carers equip families to engage positively to promote improved mental health and well-being. The innovative goals of Active Campus encourage movement as a principle of wellness.

Discussing the support he has received on his journey,

Khalam Contractor, a young fencer in the ELSTP programme, said, “As well as strength and conditioning, physiotherapy and sports massage, psychology has really helped me. My sport brings a lot of pressure and I find it hard talking to people who don't understand it. There are a lot of emotions running through my mind at different parts of the season, and the programme helps me to sort these out, process it all, express myself and get feedback on how I can move forward.”

Khalem’s mother, Hoa Contractor, said “Fencing is an expensive sport, even more so as your child progresses. My son has been able to improve way beyond what he could have with just training alone, as many of the services on offer at UEL would normally come at a cost. Since he started fencing at the age of six, my husband and I have been mentors, dieticians, drivers, nurses, and sponsors. Now we can be parents, trusting our boy’s athletic journey to professionals who understand what he needs to become the best he can be.” For more information about enrolment in the programme, visit East London Sport Talent Pathway.