Disability Sport Events

Together with our partner Disability Sport Events (DSE) we are helping aspiring champions on the road to the Beijing and London Paralympics as part of a £1 million programme through to 2012.

For the second year running, we also donated 10p to DSE for every vote cast at our AGM, which generated an additional £100,000 to help promising young sportspeople across the UK who might not otherwise get the chance to realise their potential.

Graham Beale, Chief Executive & DSE Athletes

Graham Beale, Chief Executive & DSE athletes

As part of our association with DSE, we sponsor the Nationwide DSE Sports Awards. In December 2006 Ian Jones won the first Rising Star award, which included a bursary of £6,000. Ian, a 16 year-old from Manchester, was first invited to try disability athletics when he learnt that the disability in his feet was irreparable and that he would never become a professional athlete. He quickly showed his form, winning two gold medals at the Visa Paralympic World Cup. Soon after, Ian was internationally classified as a T44 athlete. UK Athletics were so astounded by his talent that he was instantly selected for the World Championships in Assen, where he ran in the 100m and 200m and finished in fourth place.

A number of other athletes received awards funded by Nationwide and the vital contribution of DSE volunteers, staff and supporters was also recognised at the awards dinner.

Nationwide Achievement Awards

We sponsored the Nationwide Achievement Awards at the VISA Paralympic World Cup. Over 500 people attended the awards event, where 10 athletes were recognised for their achievements, including two young up-and-coming DSE athletes. Among the VIP attendees were Sir Steve Redgrave, Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson and Cherie Blair. This event helped to forge an even stronger link with VISA, our business partner.


 
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