RBC Wealth Management emphasises its support for young athletes as it continues its partnership with SportsAid for a fifth year.
In 2018 RBC Wealth Management and RBC Capital Markets continue their support of the UK charity SportsAid for a fifth year.
Each year RBC supports 50 young athletes that represent the future of British sporting talent, providing financial assistance and mentoring through the RBC staff and athlete ‘buddy’ programme. The RBC buddy becomes the first point of contact for the athlete, follows their progress and supports them.
As a charity SportsAid aims to ensure the right athletes get the right help at the right time. The partnership with RBC sees each of the selected athletes receive an annual award of £1,000, which contributes towards costs such as travel, accommodation and equipment.
The 50 athletes, typically aged between 12 and 18, are nominated by their respective sport’s national governing bodies, with an equal split of male and female sportspeople that between them cover 31 Olympic and Paralympic disciplines.
SportsAid was established in 1976 and typically 2000 athletes receive support each year. The focus on both Olympic and Paralympic success meant that SportsAid alumni won 104 of the 147 medals gained by Team GB’s Paralympic team in Rio 2016. A number of athletes featuring in this year’s RBC programme are currently competing in the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia.
Paralympian Georgie Hermitage, a previous award recipient from RBC’s partnership in 2014 and 2015, won two gold medals and a silver medal in athletics in Rio 2016.
Other athletes that have benefited from SportsAid and have gone on to become household names include Chris Hoy, Sarah Storey, Bradley Wiggins, Ellie Simmonds, Jessica Ennis-Hill, Tom Daley and Mo Farah.
The partnership with SportsAid, established since 2013, is part of RBC’s global five year, $100 million pledge to help one million young people around the world. The class of 2018 includes 22 athletes renominated from 2017, with the youngest athlete aged just 12.