Working together to support athletes now and for their futures

At UK Sport we believe that providing holistic support to athletes is critical to our ambition to win and to win well.  This commitment is demonstrated through the work of the Athlete Support Strategy. 

The strategy’s collective mission is to drive a responsible and accountable high performance community, that encourages and promotes the opportunity for athletes to contribute and develop as people and performers.

That’s why we’re working more closely than ever with the UK Sports Institute (UKSI) and British Elite Athletes Association (BEAA), alongside sports and partners across the high-performance community to improve how we support athletes throughout their career.

We know key to doing this is making periods of transition easier for athletes, because we recognise change can be tough, even at the best of times. Therefore, feeling as prepared, as possible, for change is critical.

One of the most difficult transitions, can be leaving life as an elite athlete, for whatever reason, which is an inevitability for any sportsperson. For this reason, transition support does not start at the end of an athlete’s career. It starts whilst on programme, where we believe it’s important for athletes to invest in developing their skillset beyond sport. As a high-performance community, we can all encourage and enable this.

We recognise as the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games edge closer, and the winter season comes to an end, more athletes may be considering their next steps. Already we’ve seen a number of athletes announcing their intentions around retirement from competitive sport.

For this reason, we want athletes to feel confident that there’s the help they need in place, as they transition onto the next stage of their lives and careers. That’s why this week we’re working with UKSI and the BEAA to raise awareness of the support available (see full details below).

Supporting athletes to transition off programme is not solely limited to specific teams and personnel across the high-performance community, everyone has a part to play. We need to work together so athletes feel assured that they’ve a range of options available to them, whilst knowing they don’t have to make an immediate decision and that they’re not alone.

We can do this by being aware of the support that’s available and sharing this information in our day-to-day conversations and engagement with athletes. Enabling us together to continue to win and win well, at Paris 2024 and beyond.

What support is available for funded athlete’s leaving programme?

Athletes can access a range of support during and beyond their time on funded World Class Programmes, provided by organisations including UK Sport, National Governing Bodies, our partner organisations and specialist providers. Transition support includes:

First 6 months

UK Sport

• Athlete Performance Award (APA) funding over a transitional period of 1 – 3 months, dependent of time on programme
• Athlete Medical Scheme provide by BUPA up to 3 months from transition date to complete existing treatment, plus the option to privately fund the continuation of private medical cover
• Personal Development Award funding, for up to 12 months after leaving the World Class Programme, to support personal and professional development

UK Sports Institute and home country sports councils and institutes

• Dedicated Performance Lifestyle Support from your World Class Programmes’ existing Performance Lifestyle Practitioner (UKSI and sportscotland)
• Alternative and agreed Performance Lifestyle support from sportscotland, Sport Wales and Sport NI should you reside in or be returning to your home nation

 British Elite Athletes Association

•  BEAA membership, including support prior to selection decision

 Other providers and partners

• Independent confidential support line 24/7, potential for up to 6 one to one counselling sessions, access to online health and wellbeing resources (Provided by Health Assured and through the Wisdom App)
• Additional support available via sports

6 months to 2 years

UK Sports Institute and home country sports councils and institutes

• Performance Lifestyle support, with extended or alternative support offered by home nations institutes

British Elite Athletes Association

• Online community access via the BEAA Alumni app 

Beyond 2 years

British Elite Athletes Association

• Continued access to the BEAA Alumni community

Other providers and partners

• Opportunities to support and mentor current athletes and programmes, via networks such as National Governing Bodies and World Class Programmes, UK Sport, Home Country Sports Councils and Institutes, BEAA, British Olympic Association and British Paralympic Association