Loughborough charity, the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust, uses awards to help young people

Beth Wright, cricketer and winner of an Inspire Award

Submitted by Steve Humphries

A local charity has shared out almost £1,750 of grants to help young people reach their full potential.

The Joe Humphries Memorial Trust (JHMT) - which is based in Loughborough, Leicestershire - gave the grants as part of their Inspire Awards.

Inspire Awards are small grants of up to £500 from the JHMT.

The awards help young people aged 13-21 from Leicester and Leicestershire to fulfil their ambitions in the fields of music, arts, sports, entrepreneurism and community endeavour.

Amar Chudasama, Chloe Share, Beth Wright, Simran Kotecha, Alicia Smith, Laura Till and Luca Michalowski have each recently received the grants.

Beth Wright is a young athlete from Loughborough College’s Talented Athlete Support Scheme (TASS) Dual Career Programme.

She said: "With female sport participation increasing and the need for more female coaches, role models and mentors, the JHMT Inspire Award small grant will not only help me but also future cricketers as I hope to develop my coaching and leadership skills."

Luca Michalowski has been competing in athletics for around 10 years.

For the pass four years he’s been competing in the pole vault for Charnwood Athletic Club.

Laura Till has just recently achieved her goal of setting up her own business, AMBITION Sports Coaching, which specialises in Special Educational Needs.

Her organisation also works with those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

She said: "My main goal since year 8 has been to set up and run my own business.

"With the support of the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust, I am now on my way to achieving my dream!

"I truly can't wait for the future, I can't wait to better myself and to better my company."

Amar Chudasama has received a grant to help him pursue a goal to be an international hockey umpire.

Simran Kotecha wants to become a print designer making fabrics for soft furnishings like upholstery, cushions and curtains.

She said: "The grant gives me the ability to exercise my full creative freedom and access the right tools to put me in a much better position to create quality designs and artwork."

Chloe Share has a dream to perform in a West End musical theatre production.

Alicia Smith is part of the Sport England funded TASS programme at Loughborough College.

Her speciality sport is handball and she now plays for the Loughborough University 1st team.

The JHMT was set up in memory of teenager Joe Humphries, who collapsed and died in October 2012 while out jogging near his family home.

Joe was a victim of sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS).

This is a group of lethal heart diseases which can cause sudden cardiac death in young people.

The JHMT provides free CPR training, helps to fund community defibrillators and campaigns for better understanding of SADS.

Simon Taylor, JHMT Inspire lead, said: "It is hugely encouraging to see such inspirational young people stepping forward as we emerge from Covid to follow their dreams.

"The Joe Humphries Memorial Trust are so pleased to be able to support these seven special young people to help achieve their goals."

To find out more about the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust, click here.

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