Athlete Travel Award Scheme opens for 2024-25 applications

Performance athletes in Orkney can apply for help towards travelling to training and competitions in 2024-25 with the county’s Athlete Travel Award Scheme open for applications from today (5 February).

Now in its seventh year, the scheme is a targeted partnership between sportscotland and Councils in the highlands and islands - Orkney Islands, Western Isles, Shetland Islands and Highland Councils – and is aimed at helping elite pathway sports people in these regions with the extra costs of accessing development opportunities – without having to relocate from their communities.

In Orkney, the scheme is supported by £2k from Orkney Islands Council. Stagecoach has also invested £4.5k into this year’s scheme, helping to support even more of the county’s athletes.

Applicants will be able to apply for up to £1500 each, for the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.

Councillor Gwenda Shearer is Chair of Orkney Islands Council's Education, Leisure and Housing Committee. She said: "With the Island Games coming to Orkney in 2025, it’s an exciting time to be an athlete in the county - especially if you have the potential to reach elite levels of competition and performance. We’re grateful to sportscotland and Stagecoach for their continued support which gives our athletes every chance to develop to their full potential, whatever the arena.”

Forbes Dunlop, Chief Executive, sportscotland, said: “This is a really important scheme to allow talented athletes in Orkney to access training and competition opportunities as they develop in their sports. With the Island Games coming to Orkney next year, it’s the ideal time to provide more athletes with this targeted support and I hope we see many of them competing at home in 2025.”

David Beaton, Managing Director of Stagecoach Highlands, said: “We're thrilled to once again be supporting athletes in Orkney through this scheme. Local communities are at the heart of everything we do at Stagecoach, and it is a great privilege to be able to help these athletes on their journey to elite sporting success."

Amounts received by athletes are based on a number of criteria including their forecasted Competition and Training schedule, understanding of the Sports Performance Pathway and National Rankings. The application process also requires athletes to evidence how the grant will improve their performance, provide them access to quality training opportunities and improve their sports or club environment.

For more information on ATAS please visit www.orkney.gov.uk/atas and to apply online visit orkney.gov.uk/atas.application