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GBR PATHWAY ATHLETES INVITED TO APPLY FOR SPORTSAID 2025-26

Last updated: November 14th 2025: The news item below has been edited to remove the term non-disabled, which we appreciate is not an inclusive term. Please see our glossary for more information. We apologise for this error and strive to continually meet better standards.

We invite athletes on the GBR Pathway Programme to apply for SportsAid support for 2025-26.

Athletes who have signed up for, and paid the annual subscription for the GBR Pathway Programme for the 2025-26 season are invited to apply for SportsAid awards (previously called the SportsAid Core award) or Backing the Best awards.

Invitations to apply will be emailed to all registered athletes on the GBR Pathway, with athletes encouraged to check their email inboxes, especially junk or spam inboxes. Athletes who have signed up for and paid the annual subscription for the GBR Pathway but have not received an email by 12:00noon on Friday 14th November should contact susy.davies@britishfencing.com.

THE SPORTSAID AWARDS

SportsAid is a charity that aims to support talented young athletes in England. It does this by nominating athletes for awards, which provide access to a variety of resources including webinars, workshops for parents and athletes, and access to resources to support their growth as athletes. In addition to this, there is the possibility of financial support, but this is not guaranteed.

There are two awards that athletes will be able to apply for, an athlete may apply for both, but can only be in receipt of one award. BF has a limited number that it can nominate to SportsAid.

SPORTSAID PILOT AWARD

The SportsAid Pilot Award (previously called the SportsAid Core Award before the 2023-24 season) is funded through charitable donations, and in addition to the support detailed above, athletes have the potential for a financial award of up to £2,500.

This award is primarily targeted to support fencers whose ability to train, compete and progress would be significantly compromised without this level of financial support.

Support for the 2025-26 season will be given to 2 fencers in the GBR pathway as part of the pilot scheme.

BACKING THE BEST AWARD

The Backing the Best Award is designed to provide assistance to the highest potential athletes who, due to financial constraints, may otherwise struggle to compete or train. In addition to the support detailed above, a Backing the Best award will come with financial support of up to £5,000. In order to ensure that support is going to those most in need, in addition to the eligibility criteria laid out below, as in previous years, Backing the Best applications will only be accepted from households that have a gross annual income of less than £55,000. However, with the cost of living having increased, households with incomes higher than this can be considered but will need to provide SportsAid with further information regarding their personal and/or family situation or other specific circumstances. Athletes who attend fee paying schools are not eligible for a Backing the Best Award unless there is evidence of a full bursary and/or scholarship.

Support for 2025-25 will be given to the following number of fencers:

Wheelchair fencers eligible to compete for GBR at World Abilitysport events: 4 athletes
Fencers eligible to compete for GBR at EFC and FIE events: 10 athletes

WHO SHOULD APPLY?

SportsAid awards are aimed at supporting athletes who have ambitions to compete at the highest level, representing Great Britain at Senior World Championship, Olympic or Paralympic level. With this in mind, an athlete should consider applying for an award if they meet the following criteria –

  • Have been competing on the EFC European Cadet Circuit, FIE Junior World Cup Circuit, and World Abilitysport Wheelchair Fencing circuit for the last year.
  • Reasonable expectation to be selected for the EFC Cadet or FIE Junior European Championships 2026, or of having achieved the qualification criteria.
  • Reasonable expectation to be selected for the FIE Cadet or Junior World Championships 2026, or of having achieved the qualification criteria.
  • Reasonable expectation of selection for the EFC U23 European Championships 2026.
  • Reasonable expectation of selection for the World Abilitysport Wheelchair Fencing World Championships in September 2026 – Wheelchair Fencing only.

For both of these awards, there are limited places available, this means that should more applications be received than there are spaces available, the following criteria will be used to prioritise athletes for support:

  • Evidence of meeting the qualifying standards for the FIE Junior European or World Championships.
  • Evidence of meeting the qualifying standards for the FIE Cadet European or World Championships.
  • Evidence of meeting the qualifying standards for the World Abilitysport Wheelchair Fencing European or World Championships – Wheelchair Fencing only.
  • Attendance at GBR Pathway camps.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

An athlete is considered eligible for a SportsAid award if they meet the following criteria:

  • Be a member of British Fencing’s GBR Pathway Programme for the year 2025-26;
  • For a SportsAid Award, typically be aged between 12 and 18 years old (or up to 35 years old for wheelchair fencing)
  • For a Backing the Best Award, priority will be given to athletes aged between 12 and 18 years old (or up to 35 years old for wheelchair fencing);
  • For a SportsAid Award, wheelchair fencing athletes are not expected to be in structured education. Olympic discipline (standing) athletes are expected to be in some form of structured education. Some flexibility may apply.
  • Have a realistic prospect of meeting one or more of the performance standards set in out on this page on the BF website;
  • Hold a UK passport;
  • For SportsAid Award, nominees must be talented British sporting competitors, primarily living and training in the UK. They must hold a valid British passport and/or be eligible to compete for Great Britain.
  • For Backing the Best, athletes must represent England as their home nation. Scottish and Welsh athletes should apply for SportsAid Scotland and SportsAid Wales respectively, while Northern Irish athletes should consider applying to the Mary Peters Trust. For more information about these programmes please go to the athlete funding support page on the BF website;
  • As in previous years, applications for a Backing the Best Award will be accepted from those from households that have a gross annual income of less that £55,000.
  • There is no maximum household income limit for those applying for a SportsAid Award, however financial hardship will be a key consideration in the nomination process;
  • If an athlete is currently enrolled on the DiSE programme, they are eligible for both SportsAid and Backing the Best Awards;
  • If an athlete is a recipient of UK Sport funding, either individually or through a World Class Programme, they are ineligible for any SportsAid award.
  • There is an expectation that athletes who receive SportsAid funding will attend GBP Pathway and Performance camps, where invited.

HOW TO APPLY

Invitations to apply will be emailed to all registered athletes on the GBR Pathway.

If you meet the eligibility requirements outlined above, you may apply for both a SportsAid Award and Backing the Best Award, but you will need to apply for both separately using the links above. Please remember that while an athlete can apply for both awards, they can only be in receipt of one award.

TIMELINE

Thursday 13th November 2025 – Applications open for SportsAid and Backing the Best Awards

Friday 21st November 2025 (at 12:00noon)  – Deadline for applications

March 2026 – Applicants informed if they are successful or unsuccessful

WHAT ABOUT ATHLETES WHO DO NOT REPRESENT ENGLAND?

Athletes who are not based in or representing England, should look at the athlete funding page of the GBR Pathway Zone, which details funding opportunities for athletes across all the Home Nations.