Latest News

Leading social housing repairs and maintenance specialist Mears continues search for the brightest sporting stars.Mears Group's Future Champions Programme has become a benchmark for supporting promising young individuals, investing in national sport at a grass roots level, and creating inspiring role models in communities around Britain.Since its launch in 2006, the Future Champions initiative has sponsored 16 individuals - offering financial and advisory support to athletes of various disciplines looking to compete for their country at an international level. But as well as giving some of the nation's brightest sporting prodigies a real chance of reaching their potential, the future Champions programme has helped to create inspirational young role models within the communities where Mears Group operates."Each Future Champion writes a blog, and the way people in their area follow their trials, tribulations and successes has created a great community feel to the programme," explains Ken Mantock, Mears Group Community and Environment Director. "The whole point is to find individuals who can inspire others, encourage sport participation and healthy lifestyles, and to give communities a role model that they can be proud of."For the athletes themselves, the financial support, mentoring and appropriate work experience that Mears Group offers through the Future Champions Programme helps to alleviate the pressures, financial and otherwise, of training for international competitions of the highest level. For each individual, up to £2000 per year is available to cover the substantial expenses of travelling to international events, and the cost of high-end sporting equipment."Our Future Champions are supported financially and receive mentoring from their sponsoring branch team," said Ken"With the UK hosting the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, and Glasgow hosting the Commonwealth Games two years later, we have the perfect opportunity to support young athletes in achieving their goals and aspirations."The Mears Future Champions Programme is available for any athlete aged 11-20 living in an area where Mears operates, provided that they are already approaching national standard in an Olympic or Paralympic sport.