Hampshire Talented Athlete Scheme (HTAS)

Hampshire County Council provides support services to help Hampshire’s most talented athletes reach world class podiums e.g. Olympics, Paralympics, World Championships.

Support starts at county level and goes through to athletes competing internationally. As the performance pathways for different sports vary hugely, each National Governing Body (NGB) of sport is consulted to ensure that support is given at the right level. Disciplines not supported by the NGB will not be eligible for HTAS support.

A variety of factors will influence the level of support provided to an athlete. These factors include national and international rankings, national and international competition results (for individual sports) and selection for national and international teams (for team sports).Disciplines without clear performance pathways will not be supported.

Throughout the year athletes can apply for:

• Free access to participating leisure centres
• Fast track-physiotherapy service

The scheme is open to:

• Hampshire and Southampton residents (Please note that Portsmouth, and the Isle of Wight have their own support schemes.)
• Athletes aged over 11 years.
• Athletes competing in HTAS supported sports (see tab)
• Athletes competing at the correct level

Full support package

Applications for the full support package open in September. Support is based on performance levels and can include:

• Free access to participating leisure centres
• Fast track-physiotherapy service
• Free bus travel cards from Stagecoach, Bluestar and First Group
• Sports science support from Southampton Solent University
• For Hampshire residents: Grant up to £400 (not a guaranteed amount)
• For Southampton residents: A range of support services from Southampton Solent University including strength and conditioning, injury prevention screening and discounted sports supplements.

Other funding

Financial Assistance for Talented Young People in Sport

Unitary authority support

Athletes from Portsmouth should contact Matt Birch for details of support services matthew.birch@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Athletes from the Isle of Wight should contact Elaine Tracey for details of support services. Elaine.Tracey@IOW.gov.uk

Applications for the full support package (grants, free access to leisure centres, fast-track physiotherapy, sports science support and bus passes) are now closed.

To find out if you are eligible for fast-track physiotherapy and a free access card for local leisure centres, see the HTAS structure document. Please note this is a guide and is not definitive.

All applications require evidence from the NGB e.g. The Rugby Football Union. Evidence can include:

• National and international championship results from NGB website
• National and international rankings
• Letters of invitation into national squads
• Letters of support from the NGB.

A maximum of 5 sheets of evidence will be accepted. All evidence must be from official sources.

Applications for fast-track physiotherapy and free access cards for participating leisure centres are accepted throughout the year and processed on the 1^st and 15^th of each month. Please complete and return the non-grant appalication form.  

To be eligible for the fast-track physiotherapy service, athletes cannot be injured at the time of application. Applications will be processed one month after application and membership of the scheme will then run for 12 months.

Please note that the sports and disciplines supported by HTAS can change from year to year depending upon changes within those sports. This list aims to give you some brief guidance.

As the performance pathways for different sports vary hugely, each NGB of sport is consulted to ensure that support is given at the right level. Disciplines not supported by the NGB will not be eligible for HTAS support. Disciplines without clear performance pathways with not be supported.

• Angling, Archery (Recurve and Compound), Athletics (Olympic disciplines only)
• Badminton, Baseball/Softball, Basketball, Biathlon (ski), Bobsleigh (and Bobsleigh Skeleton), Bowls, Boxing
• Canoeing, Cricket (outdoor only), Curling, Cycling
• Equestrian
• Fencing, Football (Girls)
• Golf, Gymnastics
• Handball, Hockey (outdoor only)
• Ice Hockey
• Ice Skating
• Judo
• Lacrosse
• Modern Pentathlon, Mountaineering
• Netball
• Orienteering
• Rounders, Rowing, Rugby League, Rugby Union
• Sailing (member of a national squad, with top 15 results from class national championships in an RYA recognised or pathway class boat), Shooting, Skiing, Snowboarding, Squash, Swimming (diving, synchronised, water polo, racing)
• Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Triathlon
• Volleyball
• Waterskiing, Weightlifting, Windsurfing, Wrestling

Supported disability sports

• Alpine skiing, Archery (Recurve and Compound), Athletics (Paralympic disciplines only)
• Boccia
• Cricket, Curling, Cycling
• Equestrian
• Disability Football
• Goalball
• Judo
• Ice Sledge Hockey
• Nordic Skiing (Biathlon / Cross Country)
• Powerlifting
• Rowing - Adaptive
• Sailing, Shooting, Swimming
• Table Tennis
• Sitting Volleyball
• Wheelchair Basketball
• Wheelchair Fencing
• Wheelchair Tennis
• Wheelchair Rugby

Hampshire County Council contribute financially to the scheme
First Group provide 25 free bus passes for athletes.
Stagecoach provide 25 free bus passes for athletes.
Blue Star provide 25 free bus passes for athletes.
Southampton Solent University provide sports science support
Sovereign (Hampshire) donated money to the scheme