News: Local companies back bobsleigh youth programme

Rotherham companies are backing a programme that supports young people in the region to achieve their champion potential through the sport of bobsleigh.

Team Active Fun in Sheffield has developed the Active Talent programme for young people that have each experienced problems with engagement during their time at secondary school and this disengagement resulted in many of these individuals becoming involved in gangs and associated criminal behaviour.

Working with the extended learning team in Sheffield young people are being given the opportunity to participate in a programme that supports re-engagement through the sport of bobsleigh. The programme is being developed by bobsleigh world champion Nicola Minichiello, and GB Olympic bobsleigh team manager Jo Manning who have been sharing their experience and skills associated with the sport.

As part of the programme some of the team have just returned from Igls in Austria where they have been developing their ice sliding skills. Whilst in Igls they were able to watch the first Winter Youth Olympics Games.

Nicola Minichiello, world champion bobsleigh driver and company director at Team Active Fun, said: "Bobsleigh is a team sport that requires an enormous amount of commitment, determination and dedication. We've been delighted with the commitment the boys have shown to the programme."

The programme has secured financial support from the charitable fund established by Rotherham manufacturing firm, AESSEAL, with the South Yorkshire Community Foundation. Rotherham companies Tata Speciality Steels, Newburgh Engineering and LifeSkills are sponsoring the programme.

Mick Hood, HR Director at Tata Steel's Speciality Steels business, said: "Tata Steel are delighted to be working alongside the Bobsleigh team on such an exciting and worthwhile initiative.

"Engaging and developing young people is an integral part of the Tata Steel community programme and the work that Nicola and the team do to help achieve this is outstanding. We would also like to wish the team every success now and in the future'.

Lesley Ann-Card, group communications officer at Newburgh Engineering, said: "Newburgh is delighted to sponsor this unique and exciting project that is really engaging with the local youth.

"Bobsleighing is a relatively unknown sport and a difficult skill to learn. This is something that all of South Yorkshire, and indeed the UK, should be really proud of, the bobsleigh project offers an extra-curricular activity for teenagers, and gives them something to aspire to - who knows, we could be sponsoring gold medalists of the future!"

Spencer Fearn managing director at LifeSkills, said: "LifeSkills are delighted to be part of an exciting and innovative project, which will give many people the opportunity to engage in sport."

Nicola Minichiello was one of the GB athletes backed by Rotherham-based Bromley Technologies. The others, Shelley Rudman and Kristan Bromley, are competing today in the skeleton World Championships in Lake Placid, USA.

Team Active Fun website

Images: Team Active Fun