The Travers Foundation
Helping young people achieve their potential
Every talented young person deserves the opportunity to discover just how far their passion and commitment can take them.
But talent alone is not always enough. The cost of specialist coaching, training, travel, competitions, rehearsals, recording and performance opportunities can become a barrier long before a young person reaches their potential.
The Travers Foundation exists to help remove those barriers.
But talent alone is not always enough. The cost of specialist coaching, training, travel, competitions, rehearsals, recording and performance opportunities can become a barrier long before a young person reaches their potential.
The Travers Foundation exists to help remove those barriers.
How it began
Every talented young person deserves someone in their corner.
The Travers Foundation was born from seeing first-hand how financial pressures can prevent talented young people from progressing.
In 2007, Terry Forsey helped William Sharman, a talented young hurdler, raise the funds needed to continue receiving specialist coaching and competing internationally after losing existing financial support.
That athlete went on to become a British Champion and European and Commonwealth medallist.
A few years later, Ryan Evans, then the United Kingdom’s leading amateur golfer and one of the highest-ranked amateur golfers in the world, faced a similar challenge. He had an important opportunity to compete and train in Australia during the British winter, but needed financial support to make it possible.
To mark his 60th birthday, Terry asked family and friends not for presents, but to help him create something that could support Ryan and other talented young people facing the same barriers.
More than £5,000 was raised, and the foundations of The Travers Foundation were laid.
The Travers Foundation became a registered charity in 2012.
In 2007, Terry Forsey helped William Sharman, a talented young hurdler, raise the funds needed to continue receiving specialist coaching and competing internationally after losing existing financial support.
That athlete went on to become a British Champion and European and Commonwealth medallist.
A few years later, Ryan Evans, then the United Kingdom’s leading amateur golfer and one of the highest-ranked amateur golfers in the world, faced a similar challenge. He had an important opportunity to compete and train in Australia during the British winter, but needed financial support to make it possible.
To mark his 60th birthday, Terry asked family and friends not for presents, but to help him create something that could support Ryan and other talented young people facing the same barriers.
More than £5,000 was raised, and the foundations of The Travers Foundation were laid.
The Travers Foundation became a registered charity in 2012.
What we do today
Today, The Travers Foundation supports talented young people aged 13 to 30 across Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and Rutland.
We help individuals, teams and groups pursue their potential in sport, music and the arts by supporting eligible costs such as:
Full details of eligibility, support levels and the application process are contained in our Guide to Support and Funding.
We help individuals, teams and groups pursue their potential in sport, music and the arts by supporting eligible costs such as:
- specialist coaching and training;
- competition and entry fees;
- travel and accommodation;
- rehearsals and performance opportunities;
- recording and production; and
- other development activity that helps a young person progress.
Full details of eligibility, support levels and the application process are contained in our Guide to Support and Funding.
Since 2012, The Travers Foundation has provided more than £400,000 of financial support to talented young people across Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and Rutland
Today, we support almost 50 young people each year and invest around £50,000 annually in their development.
Our support has helped young people to:
Success is not measured only in medals, rankings or professional recognition.
For many young people, it begins with gaining access to an opportunity that would otherwise have been beyond their reach.
Every talented young person deserves someone in their corner.
Today, we support almost 50 young people each year and invest around £50,000 annually in their development.
Our support has helped young people to:
- progress from local competition to national and international success, including Olympic, Commonwealth and world-level performance;
- access the coaching, training, travel and competition opportunities needed to develop their sporting potential;
- record, produce and release original music;
- gain experience and pursue opportunities in acting, filmmaking, performance and production; and
- build the confidence, resilience and skills needed to take meaningful steps towards their ambitions.
Success is not measured only in medals, rankings or professional recognition.
For many young people, it begins with gaining access to an opportunity that would otherwise have been beyond their reach.
Every talented young person deserves someone in their corner.
Our impact
More than financial support
Financial support opens the door. Belief gives a young person the confidence to walk through it.
The Travers Foundation does not simply provide funding.
We provide opportunity, encouragement and a community of people who believe in young people and want to see them succeed.
Sometimes the greatest impact is not the financial support itself. It is knowing that someone believes in you, values your ambition and is prepared to stand behind you.
Those we support become part of The Travers Foundation community. We encourage Members to share their progress, support Foundation events and campaigns, and help create opportunities for the young people who follow them.
This approach ensures that every Member both benefits from and contributes to the continuing success of The Travers Foundation.
We provide opportunity, encouragement and a community of people who believe in young people and want to see them succeed.
Sometimes the greatest impact is not the financial support itself. It is knowing that someone believes in you, values your ambition and is prepared to stand behind you.
Those we support become part of The Travers Foundation community. We encourage Members to share their progress, support Foundation events and campaigns, and help create opportunities for the young people who follow them.
This approach ensures that every Member both benefits from and contributes to the continuing success of The Travers Foundation.
100% volunteer-led and locally focused
As a 100% volunteer-led charity, every pound raised is focused on creating opportunities for local young people.
Our work is made possible by individuals, businesses, volunteers and community supporters who share our belief that financial circumstances should never determine how far a talented young person can go.
Financial support opens the door. Belief gives a young person the confidence to walk through it.
Our work is made possible by individuals, businesses, volunteers and community supporters who share our belief that financial circumstances should never determine how far a talented young person can go.
Financial support opens the door. Belief gives a young person the confidence to walk through it.
Get involved
There are several ways to support our work:
Together, we can help more talented local young people overcome financial barriers, develop their potential, and discover just how far their ambition can take them.
- Apply for support if you are an eligible young person, team or group.
- Donate to help create opportunities for young people across our region.
- Volunteer your time, skills or professional experience.
- Fundraise through The Travers Challenge, community events or your own activity.
- Partner with us as a business or organisation.
Together, we can help more talented local young people overcome financial barriers, develop their potential, and discover just how far their ambition can take them.