Dame Kelly Holmes Trust and Westfield Health launches new partnership and challenge

16th July 2021

Dame Kelly Holmes Trust and Westfield Health today launch a three-year charitable partnership, initially focused on improving health and wellbeing amongst young people in Sheffield, with big ambitions to expand programmes nationally.

The two organisations have today shared their plans, including the delivery of schools based mentoring programmes, young people’s leadership programmes, and a UK wide fundraising challenge, with a group of regionally based businesses, who they will engage and inspire to support their vision to create positive social change for young people in the area.

Ben Hilton, CEO Dame Kelly Holmes Trust said,

As part of our partnership with Westfield Health, we are committing to inspire young lives in Sheffield to lead happy, healthy lives. Ensuring that we work within and connected to the 5 year Move More Strategy to ensure we work where there is greatest need, we are collaborating with local organisations and stakeholders, prioritising equality, diversity and inclusion and enabling leadership everywhere.  Our athletes will directly mentor 600 young people in both school and community settings, to unlock their potential, and improve their physical and mental wellbeing. These young people will become Health and Wellbeing advocates and ambassadors and will, in turn, inspire 1,000’s of primary school children.

Dave Capper, CEO at Westfield Health echoes his thoughts,

For us the partnership offers an exciting platform from which to deliver our purpose which is to make a healthy difference to the quality of life of our customers and the communities in which they live and work. Sheffield is our home city and we’re delighted to be supporting local people as we all navigate the recovery from Covid.

With ten schools participating in a mentoring programme and a further training for young leaders planned in Sheffield, the partnership is set to produce a long lasting positive social impact from the outset.

The event also marks the launch of the Trust’s largest ever fundraising challenge, The Starting Blocks Challenge. Powered by Westfield Health, the challenge is designed to inspire participants to celebrate their unique and individual ‘Starting Block’ in life and raise money for the Trust. A shared and shareable experience, participants are encouraged to run, swim, cycle or walk the distance back to where their story began.

A Starting Block is the person, place or moment that inspired you to become who you are today. Participants choose their own challenge, set their distance and timescales and share their experiences on social media. The Trust believes all young people must have the opportunity to find their Starting Block in life and is encouraging people to #gobacktogiveback. 

The Dame Kelly Holmes Trust are kickstarting The Starting Blocks Challenge with some of their world class athlete mentors taking on their own unique and personal challenges, recognising that person, place or moment that inspired them. 

• Olympic swimmer James Kirton will be cycling between the seven different swimming pools in the Barnsley area he swam at as a junior to say thanks for the opportunity to join the Borough of Barnsley swimming club as an eight year old which led to him becoming an Olympian.
• Double Olympic champion Sarah Ayton will also be cycling the 100 miles from her home in Poole to the Queen Mary reservoir sailing club in Sunbury to say thanks to her first sailing club which gave her a Starting Block in her life and started her on the road to gold in Athens and Rio.
• The incredible Sarah Philpott has already completed her Starting Blocks Challenge, swimming 41 miles around the island of Jersey to say thanks to those who helped her get back in the water after a long break in 2020.

To find out more and get involved, head over to the dedicated registration platform and follow the five simple steps to taking part. The Trust will be with you every step, stroke or pedal of the way and for everyone who raises over £250 will receive a special Starting Blocks medal to recognise their achievement.

The Starting Blocks Challenge is powered by our Double Gold partner Westfield Health. It is also sponsored by Gold partners Chartwells and our Silver Partners, Baker Mallett.

Find out more about partners here.