SIX South Gloucestershire athletes have received a 'Springboard Award’ as part of a partnership project to help promising local sports stars reach their full potential.

The winners were 16-year-old netball player Summer Artman from Downend, 14-year-old swimmer William Cole from Oldland Common, 17-year-old athlete Robert Phillips from Yate, 16-year-old disabled athlete Adam Wilson from Bradley Stoke, Yate & District AC's 15-year-old athlete Emily Wright, and 14-year-old judo competitor Eleanor Young, from Bradley Stoke.

After receiving £500 to help him continue his goal to become a competition level hurdler, Phillips said: “I will be using the money to help take me to the next level in my sport, buying a set of starting blocks and some new running spikes which will help with my progression in my event.”

In total, 25 athletes from the South West received awards and each of the winners will receive a £500 cash grant towards training and competition costs and free access to local sports facilities, including all of the Active Leisure centres in South Gloucestershire.

South Gloucestershire Council’s Healthy Lifestyles Manager Rob Stirzaker said: “These grants and free access to sports facilities can go a long way to help local athletes progress to national and international success.

"These athletes really are the ones to watch for the future and hopefully some of them will make it through to talent squads for team GB and the 2016 Olympics.”

Laura Eddie from SportsAid said: “This has been a really successful scheme that has already helped some excellent athletes and we’d like to help even more.

"If anyone would like to contribute to their future and help them realise their potential, they should get in touch with us today.”

The awards are now in their sixth year and have benefited 95 young sporting hopefuls so far.

The 2014 Springboard Awards took place at Hengrove Leisure Centre and were attended by chairman of South Gloucestershire Council, Cllr Ian Boulton.