Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme
TASS is the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme, an innovative and exciting Government funded programme that represents a unique partnership between sport and higher and further education. The Scheme supports and fast-tracks young sporting talent, the potential medal winners of the future, and is specifically designed to cater for the special needs of athletes within the education system, aiming to reduce the drop-out of talented athletes from sport due to academic and financial pressures.
TASS began in the Autumn of 2004 bringing the best from relevant sporting agencies including the English Institute of Sport, Sport England, SportsAid, UK Sport, University College Sport and the National Governing Bodies of Sport, to help support talented young sportsmen and women, both able-bodied and those with a disability.
Deloitte is the Disability Sport Partner of TASS. They have made a long term commitment to directly support the development of those talented athletes with a disability that the Scheme could help. This significant commitment complements Deloitte’s association with Parasport in supporting the signposting, identification and development of emerging sporting talent. Its impact in TASS is already evident in the increased number of talented athletes supported by the Scheme.
As a guide, to be part of the Scheme your nomination needs to be supported by your National Governing Body of Sport (NGB). You should be aged between 16-25 years old for TASS (this limit is extended to 35 years old for athletes with a disability) or between 10-20 years old for TASS 2012 and hold a valid GB Passport. Athletes from Scotland or Wales can apply to become part of the Scheme but need to reside at an English address or be studying at an English Higher or Further Education institution to be considered. TASS athletes receive a tailored package of services comprising coaching, sports medicine, sports science, and such like to ensure they have the optimal level of support to train and compete. TASS awards are made on an annual basis and typically range from £3,000 to £10,000, the higher level being for athletes with a special sporting talent who can be fast-tracked onto the TASS 2012 element of the Scheme. Further information can be found at www.tass.gov.uk or through www.sportsandstudy.net and if you wish to be considered for a TASS Scholarship, please contact your NGB in the first instance.
TASS Ambassador, Sir Steve Redgrave summed up the importance of the Scheme when he said, “TASS is an exciting initiative which has already made a major contribution to producing the sporting talent required to represent Britain in major international competition including Beijing in 2008 and in London four years later. I am pleased to be associated with it because I know how important it is to bridge the gap by ensuring that those who show exceptional ability at school go on to fulfill that potential as adult sportsmen and women.”
Just click on the link to Adam Alderman to read his experience of being supported by TASS.
