Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC) has received yet another boost to its growing sporting credentials by being named a Talented Athlete Sport Scheme (TASS) institution.
The TASS is a unique Government-funded sponsorship between sport and Further Education, which offers talented athletes funding to support them while they study. The project is part of the Government’s pledge to develop Britain’s future sporting stars in advance of London 2012.
The scheme has many fans including five-time Olympic Gold Medal winner Sir Steve Redgrave who said: “This exciting new scheme provides our most promising future Olympians with top quality sporting services and access to good quality training facilities.”
The award has generated a lot of excitement within the College. Trevor Humphreys, Academy of Sport Co-ordinator, said: “This is a prestigious programme to be part of and is key to attracting high quality sports people to the College.”
The College hopes to attract more athletes like its current star Ben Williams, who recently won Gold in the Triple Jump at the Under 17 World Championships in Italy. The TASS scheme furthers the College’s growing reputation as an institute of sporting as well as academic excellence.
The College already boasts academies in basketball and netball, as well as two very successful football academies in partnership with Newcastle Town FC and Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU). The College is also home to the recently completed Gordon Banks Sports Centre, which houses a 4-badminton court sports hall, a dance studio and well-equipped fitness suite, all of which are available to the public.