Charitable social enterprise and worker-owned co-op GLL has announced 47 athletes from the Bedford Borough will benefit from the 2026 intake of its GLL Sport Foundation (GSF) – the largest independent athlete award programme in the UK.
Now in its 18th year, the GLL Sport Foundation has so far contributed nearly £20m worth of athlete funding and support and distributed nearly 35,000 awards to young and talented athletes in 69 areas of the UK where GLL operate and across 121 different sports.
Among the local athletes benefiting are 15-year-old showjumper Brooke Bendall, 52-year-old pole vaulter Robert Kingman, and 23-year-old cheerleader Chloe Sherwood.
With 86% of this year's cohort receiving no other form of funding - up 3% from 2025 - it outlines the significant contribution the athlete programme makes against the challenge of the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Over 18 years, the GLL Sport Foundation (GSF) has continued to be at the forefront of developing local young athletic talent with 63% of athletes under the age of 21.
GLL’s own research shows that many talented athletes struggle to realise their dreams of sporting glory due to rising costs of equipment, training, physiotherapy, travel and nutrition. For them, a GSF Award can be the lifeline to staying in training and meeting their potential.
At the Bedford GSF Awards 2026 Launch Event held at Mowsbury Golf and Squash Complex on 10 July, 60 athletes and partners gathered to hear how this year's GSF athlete award fund of £31,900 will help support talented athletes on their sporting journey.
Among the recipients was 14-year-old Mia Flynn, who began competing with Bedford & County Athletics Club in 2022 across sprints, hurdles, and discus. In 2023, she broke the club’s U13 girls’ discus record with 26.34m, ranking fourth in the UK.
Mia transitioned to hammer throwing in 2024 and quickly rose through the rankings, reaching 44.67m by the end of the season and finishing seventh in the UK in the U15 age group. In 2025, she improved further to 51.48m, climbing to UK No.2 and winning medals at every major competition, including silver at the English Schools and England Championships.
Her outstanding form has continued into 2026, with a personal best of 54.09m, victories at the Southern Counties, and her first national title at the UKA Winter Long Throws Championships, where she remains unbeaten in the U16 girls’ category.
On receiving her GSF Award, Mia said: “The support from the GSF award will help provide access to high-quality training facilities, coaching, and specialist equipment needed to help me reach my full potential.”
The GSF supports athletes through financial bursaries, access to physical rehabilitation and mental wellbeing support and all athletes are also given access to over 250 sport and leisure facilities across the UK operated by GLL under its "Better" brand.
37% of GSF 2026's cohort are new applicants - showing the successful growth and reach of the scheme across communities in Northern Ireland, Wales and England.
GSF Patron Sally Gunnell OBE said: “It's fantastic to see the GLL Sport Foundation announcing its largest ever award cohort in 2026.
"The support continues to make a difference to young athletes at precisely the point in their careers when they most need it - keeping them training and focused on success."
"I wish them the very best of luck in their sporting careers."
GSF Chair and GLL CEO Peter Bundey said: “GLL is a successful worker-owned cooperative and charitable social enterprise that has brought growing impact to public services and local communities over 33 years of successful operation.
“Our GLL Sport Foundation remains central to our remit to widen and deepen opportunities available to talented young athletes and build a legacy through sport.
“Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and our own purposed business model we are delighted to announce a record 3234 athletes will benefit from the programme this year.
"I want to wish them every success, and we look forward to seeing them in competition here and abroad in years to come."
