After an incredible year of British sporting success on the world stage, SSE is proud to announce they are continuing to support the next generation of Olympic and Paralympic heroes as title sponsor of SportsAid’s annual SportsBall. 

Organised by SportsAid, the gala charity ball brings together British sporting royalty with some of the best up-and-coming prospects for an event like no other, with funds raised helping to transform the lives of a host of young disabled and non-disabled athletes.

Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, SportsAid provides support to rising stars to enable them to overcome the financial obstacles they face in their bid to become Britain’s future Olympic, Paralympic and world champions, with more than 1,100 young people across 60-plus sports helped in 2016 alone.

Sponsoring the SportsBall, which takes place at the London Hilton on Park Lane on Thursday, November 24, is just the latest way SSE is making a difference to the lives of emerging sporting talent and builds on SSE’s brand promise to support emerging talent.

An official partner of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, SSE partnered with SportsAid to launch the SSE Next Generation programme, a legacy project that supports 100 athletes with vital funding, mentoring and workshop opportunities and is now in its fourth year.

“We’re so pleased to be working with SSE,” said Tim Lawler, SportsAid’s Chief Executive. “Their organisation-wide commitment to developing the SSE Next Generation programme is impressive and exciting.

“We’ve seen the partnership evolve and grow since its inception in 2013 and for SSE to go the extra step this year, SportsAid’s 40thanniversary, and help take the SportsBall to another level is terrific.

“The SSE Next Generation programme is innovative, diverse and is setting new standards in how best to recognise and nurture young sporting talent – SportsAid is very proud to be involved." 

This year’s SportsBall is set to be bigger and better than ever, with SportsAid alumni and Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic medallists including rower Heather Stanning, hockey stars Georgia Twigg and Crista Cullen and cyclist Callum Skinner just some of the sporting celebrities and legends set to attend.

The evening will also include live sports demonstrations from the likes of SSE Next Generation gymnast Rhys McClenaghan, who became the first Irish athlete to secure a podium finish at a European Championships earlier this year, and will be showing off his skills on the pommel horse.

SportsAid’s coveted One-to-Watch Award will also be presented on the night, with previous winners including Olympic diving medallist Tom Daley and heptathlete Morgan Lake. The ten nominees include SSE Next Generation badminton star Harry Huang, 15, who won the Under-15 European title in 2016. 

“SportsAid do a hugely important job in supporting young athletes and allowing them to focus on making the most of their potential, and I know my SportsAid funding was a big boost at the start of my career,” said SSE Next Generation ambassador and Olympic diving silver medallist Leon Taylor, a former SportsAid award recipient.

“It has been absolutely fantastic being involved with the SSE Next Generation athletes as a mentor and seeing them grow and develop first hand. SSE are making a massive difference to these young athletes and giving them every opportunity to thrive in their sport.”

As well as its four-year partnership with SportsAid through the SSE Next Generation, SSE is proud to have made a commitment to supporting the brightest young talent and encouraging participation at all levels in British sport. 

The official partner of the Women’s FA Cup, the largest cup competition for female footballers in England, SSE also supports rugby and cricket from grassroots up to national level at the SSE SWALEC, the home of cricket in Wales.

“2016 has been a wonderful year for British sport, and we are delighted to have been part of that with our partners at SportsAid and the SSE Next Generation Programme,” said Colin Banks, head of sponsorship at SSE. 

“We are extremely proud of the achievements of all the SSE Next Generation athletes, current and former, who performed brilliantly at the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games as well as all their other achievements at every level throughout the year.

“As SportsAid celebrates its 40th anniversary, the SportsBall will undoubtedly be a special evening, which we are delighted to be part of.”