Following an incredible first year, which saw young people competing at the top level, and the introduction of new sports teams in our community, the Port of Dover’s next round of sponsorships has been announced.

Championing equality, diversity and positive mental health for under 18’s, sponsorships of up to £5,000 have been awarded for five brand new campaigns, and three existing ones ready to take their goal another step further.

Jenny Beacon, CSR and Community Executive at the Port of Dover said:

“We are proud to be promoting a healthy lifestyle for our youth community, and at the same time helping these amazing local talents achieve greatness now and in the future.”

“It’s been wonderful to see the commitment to break down stereotypes and make sport accessible to all in this year’s sponsorship applications, and how the Pandemic has encouraged people to kick-start new active hobbies.”

The sponsorships are:

• Charley King, a 16-year-old swimmer at Thanet Swim Club. Charley is a county, regional and national level swimmer, where he has won several bronze medals. Charley says the sponsorship will allow him to move on to the next level and empower our youth of the future.
• Jenson Fletcher, a 13-year-old darts player competing in the Junior Darts Corporation (JDC) foundation tour, the European Open and the PDC Qualifying School. The funding will raise awareness of the importance of darts for helping with mathematics and encouraging social interaction amongst players.
• Noah Paterson, a 17-year-old middle-distance athlete who started running through lockdown and is currently competing at a national level. Last year he was third in the English Schools 3000m. He aspires to contend on the international stage for athletics at the Olympics, World championships and Commonwealth Games.
• The newly established Dover Athletics under 15’s girls’ team aims to fulfil the objective of making female football an integral part of the community, ensuring football is a fun and accessible sport for all.
• Dover Gymnastics Club has a lot of new young talent coming through its doors and aims to continue to provide the best possible training facilities and equipment, which will inspire a new generation of gymnasts.

Support continues for Kaela Cheffins from The Alkham Valley Project, Ollie Scott, a member of the British Para Triathlon Academy and Alex Dack from Deal Triathlon Club and the Southeast Triathlon Academy.

Kaela competed in national competitions for the first time in Para Dressage through the sponsorship, moving another step closer to her dream of representing Great Britain at the Paralympics. Alex has continued his racing and training journey as number one youth triathlete in the UK, and Ollie recently came second in the British Triathlon Championships following his bronze medal last year.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

• The Port of Dover is closing the gap every day between the UK and the world by connecting trade, travel, visitors and communities locally-globally, collaborating with local and international partners to create a more seamless, sustainable and tech-enabled port.
• As the UK’s busiest international ferry port and a vital gateway for the movement of people and trade, Dover handles £144 billion of trade per year, 33% of UK trade in goods with the EU and welcomes over 11 million passengers.
• Dover is an award-winning cruise port, delivering world class travel and visitor experiences to over 20 different cruise lines each year. With a growing and diversifying cargo business operating from state-of-the-art facilities, a new marina which is at the centre of the revived waterfront, plus opportunities for further expansion in the future, Dover’s proud history dating back 400 years has a new modern twist.