Exciting News for the Trust

Dame Kelly Holmes Trust programmes to continue through LTSB, securing a lasting legacy for young people

Dame Kelly Holmes Trust and Leadership Through Sport & Business (LTSB) today announced the transfer of the Trust’s education programmes and Athlete Mentor team to LTSB - an organisation which shares our values - ensuring the continuation of Dame Kelly’s vision of helping young people build the confidence, resilience and skills they need to succeed in life through working with mentors from the world of elite level sport.

Following the successful transfer, Dame Kelly Holmes Trust’s remaining will wind down, marking the culmination of eighteen years of transforming young lives through the power of a Champion in Your Corner.

The transition has been developed jointly by both organisations and reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that successful programmes continue to grow cost-effectively and reach more young people in an increasingly challenging charitable funding environment.

For almost two decades, the Trust has worked with thousands of young people across the UK, using the experiences of world-class athletes to help them develop confidence, resilience, communication skills and emotional wellbeing, and we could not be more proud of the young people’s achievements. Bringing our programmes together with LTSB offers an exciting new opportunity for the Trust, creating a seamless pathway that will support young people from school into sustainable employment.

 The transfer brings together two highly complementary approaches:

• Dame Kelly Holmes Trust specialises in developing the socio-emotional skills that underpin success in education, employment and life

• LTSB specialises in helping disadvantaged young people move into sustainable careers through employer partnerships, mentoring, work experience and employment opportunities

The transfer also represents the beginning of a broader opportunity for the organisations to bring their complementary strengths together over time. Dame Kelly Holmes Trust brings the power of sport, athlete mentoring and the unique experience of elite sportspeople, while LTSB brings expertise in employability, mentoring and employer partnerships.

Together, the organisations have the opportunity to create something greater than the sum of their parts, creating new opportunities for both young people and sportspeople.

By combining our strengths, we believe we can respond more effectively to one of the biggest challenges facing young people and employers today: the growing gap between the skills that employers need and the confidence, resilience and workplace behaviours many young people need for them to thrive in work.

Our education programmes will continue to be delivered by our amazing team of athlete mentors, with schools, young people and partners benefiting from continuity alongside new opportunities for young people to progress into LTSB's employability programmes.

The decision has been driven by one objective: ensuring that successful programmes continue to benefit young people long into the future. We are delighted to have found a strong and sustainable home for the work we have developed.

Dame Kelly Holmes, Founder and President of Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, said:

"When I established Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, the ambition was simple: to harness the unique skillset and experience of elite level sportspeople to help young people realise their potential by building the confidence, resilience and self-belief they need to succeed.”

I am incredibly proud of everything the Trust has achieved and of the thousands of young people whose lives have been changed through the dedication of our Athlete Mentors, staff, funders and partners.

The challenges facing the charity sector mean organisations must continually think about how they create the greatest possible impact. I believe this transition gives these programmes the strongest possible future to continue supporting the young people who need a champion in their corner.

LTSB shares our commitment to improving young people's life chances and offers an exciting opportunity to build on everything we have created. By bringing together our expertise in confidence and resilience, and our amazing team of athlete mentors with LTSB's employability programmes and employer partnerships, even more young people will have the opportunity to develop the skills they need to thrive.

This isn't the end of our work. It is the continuation of everything we set out to achieve, and I couldn't be more pleased to see that legacy continue through joining with LTSB."

 Martin Talbot, Chief Executive of Leadership Through Sport and Business, said:

"This is a hugely exciting moment for LTSB and, more importantly, for the young people we exist to serve.

Dame Kelly Holmes Trust has built an exceptional reputation for helping young people develop the confidence, resilience and communication skills that employers consistently tell us they value most.

By bringing these programmes into LTSB we are creating a more comprehensive journey for young people that starts at a younger age, supporting them from their school years through to sustainable employment.

We also see enormous potential in the experience and expertise of elite sportspeople, and in creating more opportunities for them to bring those skills into our work with young people.

This is about bringing two highly complementary strengths together to create something neither organisation could achieve as effectively on its own.

We know many young people need support with confidence and wellbeing long before they begin thinking about careers. Combining these programmes with our employer partnerships means we can help young people build those foundations earlier while creating stronger pathways into work.

We are honoured that Dame Kelly has entrusted us with continuing this remarkable legacy, and we are committed to ensuring it grows for many years to come."

Jeff Hayes OBE, Chair of Leadership Through Sport and Business, said: 

“As Chair of LTSB, I’m incredibly proud that we have the opportunity to help secure the future of this important work. Dame Kelly Holmes Trust has built an extraordinary legacy, and we are committed to protecting and building on that legacy through LTSB.
This is a natural coming together of two organisations with complementary strengths. By combining the power of sport and Athlete Mentoring with LTSB’s expertise in employability
and employer partnerships, we will create an even greater impact for young people. 
Most importantly, this is about the future. We want to ensure that the young people currently benefiting from these programmes continue to receive that support, while creating opportunities for many more young people in the years ahead.”

David Pinchin, Founder and Patron of Leadership Through Sport and Business, said: 

“When I founded LTSB, my mission was to give talented young people who lacked opportunity the confidence, skills and networks they need to build successful futures. Seeing the work of Dame Kelly Holmes Trust become part of that journey feels incredibly powerful.

Dame Kelly Holmes Trust has created something genuinely special through the power of sport and Athlete Mentoring. Bringing that expertise together with LTSB’s employability programmes and corporate partners creates an exciting opportunity to support young people from confidence-building through to employment, while ensuring Dame Kelly’s legacy continues for generations to come.”

For more information about the transfer of programmes visit LTSB and to keep up to date with our shared plans moving forward sign up here: https://ltsb.charity/stay-in-touch/