Seven aspiring athletes in Cannock Chase have secured places on Everyone Active's Sporting Champions scheme, a talent development programme marking its 10th anniversary this year.

The scheme provides free access to state-of-the-art facilities at Everyone Active's 250-plus leisure sites across the country. Chase Leisure Centre and Rugeley Leisure Centre are now part of the portfolio following Everyone Active's takeover of those sites in April, in partnership with Cannock Chase District Council.

Local athletes selected

A record 1,700 athletes have been accepted onto the scheme nationally this year. The three named athletes from Cannock Chase are:

Ben Allen, 17, a triathlete who finished second in the under-17 category at the National Cross Country Championships in Sedgefield in February. He trains at Chase Leisure Centre.

Aaron Johns, 17, an obstacle racer who competed in the European OCR Championships in May and trains at Chase Leisure Centre.

Kamil Kolodziej, 18, a middle distance runner and gold medallist at county schools level who trains at Rugeley Leisure Centre.

Mentoring from elite athletes

Sporting Champions members receive valuable mentoring and guidance from an elite panel of athletes comprising Olympic and Paralympic medallists, world champions and Commonwealth champions. The line-up includes Lauren Steadman, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Emma Finucane, Maisie Summers-Newton and Richard Kilty.

These athletes will share their experience through group mentoring sessions covering mental wellbeing, nutrition, managing finances, social media and media training. Bitesize webinars in collaboration with national governing bodies are also part of the programme.

From 2026-27, athletes over 16 will receive access to the You+ membership, designed to promote holistic health and wellbeing centred around individual needs.

Colin Jackson as ambassador

Olympic silver medallist and former world record holder Colin Jackson CBE continues as ambassador for the scheme, working alongside the elite athletes.

Jackson said: "I am incredibly passionate about nurturing young talent and the Sporting Champions scheme goes above and beyond in this mission. With the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow taking place in July and August, I am more excited than ever to support athletes of all ages and from all disciplines to achieve their dreams."