With the Olympics coming to London in 2012, there is a fantastic opportunity to support young athletes across the UK. The Future Champions programme was set up in 2007 and since then it has grown to support twenty two young people who demonstrate exceptional sporting talent and can act as role models for other young people. Before being accepted as a Future Champion, applicants meet branch staff and a Community & Environment manager.
 
We agree to:
• Provide financial support
• Provide work experience where appropriate
• Support athletes at training and competitions when possible.
 
Future Champions agree to:
• Attend two meetings per year with Mears
• Update us with progress on a monthly basis
• Provide up to date photographs of themselves
• Submit an end of year report showing how sponsorship money has been spent and outlining plans for the following year.
 
Every Future Champion is supported by their local Mears Group branch because we place great importance on supporting people within the areas where we work. Their branch mentor maintains regular contact with the athlete, supporting them at competitions and training and arranging their sponsorship.
 
We communicate the successes of our athletes in our internal magazines, staff updates and conferences, such as our recent ‘Challenge The Champion’ stand at the CIH Conference in Harrogate.
 
Future Champions 2010:
Natasha Brewer, 19 years, Volleyball, Mears Wakefield
Greg Brown, 17 years, Cycling, Laidlaw Scott Glasgow
Scott Carpenter, 21 years, Water Polo, Mears Sedgefield
George Cooke, 17 years, Swimming, Mears Birmingham
Jake Exton, 15 years, Javelin, Mears Welwyn
Edmund Figueiredo, 16 years, Gymnastics, Mears Kingston
Sean Fontana, 19 years, Long Distance Running, Laidlaw Scott Glasgow
Stephanie Gaynor, 19 years, Hurdles, Mears Welwyn
Joel Jackson, 18 years, Taekwondo, Mears Greenwich
Aaron James, 20 years, Hurdles, Mears Hackney
Brielle Koulen, 14 years, Tennis, Mears Hackney
Ryan McKee, 18 years, Gymnastics, Laidlaw Scott Glasgow 
Craig Moate, 24 years, Swimming, Mears Greenwich
Hadley Pressley, 18 years, Sprinting, Mears Thanet
Joe Rodgers, 20 years, Boxing, Mears Wakefield
Helen Scott, 19 years, Cycling, Mears Midland Heart
Ben Shaw, 19 years, Taekwondo, Mears Sedgefield
Jonathan Smith, 18 years, Wheelchair Sprinting, Mears Kingston
Ben Sneesby, 15 years, Monoskiing, Mears High Wycombe
Ollie Summers, 19 years, Swimming, Haydon Chandlers Ford
Katherine Torrance, 12 years, Diving, Mears Tonbridge
Richard White, 18 years, Archery, Mears Kingston
 

Our Future Champions End of Year Report 2009 is available to download here.