Olympic legend Dame Kelly Holmes admitted she is forever in the debt of her charity’s fundraisers while giving a running master class at the East Manchester Academy.
Her charity, Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust, have been engaging young people in Wigan in a programme called ‘Get On Track’.
And Dame Kelly, who won double gold at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, was full of thanks to the Great Manchester Run fitness freaks, who raised approximately £6,000 between them.
“You think about charities on the whole these days and it is not the easiest time for anybody,” Dame Kelly said.
“What I am really grateful for is people seeing the value of the work that we do with young people.
“We are engaging with them and effectively changing their lives through a journey – I cannot say thanks enough to those who raised the money.
“I think the reason they raise money is because they know it will get spent back in the area on the young people.”
Get On Track is a Lottery-funded programme, through Sport England, and delivered in partnership with Wigan Sports Development and GreaterSport.
The flagship project promotes personal values to enhance employability and encourages young people to be happier and more active in their lives.
And Dame Kelly insists the programme is important, because young people – aged between 16 and 25 – realise their potential and raise aspirations.
“Potential and aspirations are terms, which are quite fluffy at times,” she said. “But we try hard with a personal development programme.
“From day one, the programme brings in young people who may have been following the wrong line, lacking self-belief and confidence or been in trouble.
“I spoke to the group from the Wigan programme and they said they’re going to take the lessons with them for the rest of their lives.
“When you get a comment like that, it is worth doing.”
Most of the young people were recruited via Jobcentre Plus and the charity worked alongside authorities within the area too.
Dame Kelly believes the young people’s social skills are continuously improving and their confidence is gathering pace after making new friends.
The programme also includes mentors, who are retired sports professionals, and Dame Kelly highlighted the crucial role they play an influential role in supporting and encouraging the participants.
“It is having young people look up to the athletes and feeling normal, but recognising these professionals committed their lives and remained dedicated,” she added.
“What the people said they love is the connection with the mentors – they can always pick up the phone for support.”
One of the mentors is former British and European skateboarding champion Neil Danns, who said sacrifice is an important element of life.
“It is all about giving back,” said Danns. “From being a young kid in Liverpool to becoming the British and European champion was a hard road.
“Young people don’t get to see that as much these days, because they have instant gratification with the games they play and other things.
“Older sports people like myself may show that they will have to make sacrifices, but you have to find the balance and continue your dreams.”
And Danns said sport is a vital aspect of the community, especially after skateboarding added a new perspective for the Toxteth-born skater.
He also wished for young people to succeed in acquiring jobs or volunteering positions and expressed gratitude towards those raising cash.
“Sport is a life-changer in the community,” he said. “If it wasn’t for skateboarding I may have ended on the wrong side of the track.
“Sport improves people’s social skills and also encourages a healthy competitive edge – but it is about both winning and losing, which makes you better.
“Get On Track is good for young people, because they are able to look for jobs and present themselves in the right way.
“The people who raise the money obviously understand the message that young people need the programme and skills to push on.
“They want to see the participants benefit in their lives, so it is really important that we acknowledge the fundraisers.”
Stephen Wadsley is a young participant of the Wigan programme and he joined after visiting the job centre and discussions with his advisor.
“I played a lot of rugby, so I thought I would have a go and loved it,” the 19-year-old said.
As a result, Stephen is volunteering for a primary school two days a week and he showed appreciation towards Dame Kelly and the mentors.
“I am really grateful,” he added. “Neil and Kelly have said that I had really grown up and I’ve done this all of my back.
“I was a little git when I started this course, but now I am doing something with my life and am happy.
“The sport mentors show you that anyone is able to do whatever they want.
“If you want to be a runner, you can be – just like Kelly.”
