Callum Twelves, Tia Bhatt, Muhammad Ibraheem,Alma Unsudimi, Curtis Scothern and Daisy Platts have all received the awards – totalling £1,000 – which are handed out by local charity the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust (JHMT).

Inspire Awards aim to help inspiring young people fulfill their ambitions by giving them small cash grants. The JHMT set up the scheme in memory of Joe Humphries, 14, who sadly never got to achieve his goals.

Joe died of sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS) while out jogging near his Rothley home. It's a heart condition that can affect anyone, at any time.

Racing cyclist Callum, 14, from Stapleton, will use his £150 Inspire Award to test his racing skills abroad, having already raced successfully in Belgium.

He said: "'The Inspire Award will contribute to my aim of winning the regional U14 road race championships in 2018, when I am at the top of my age category."

Tia Bhatt, 14, from Leicester, has been selected to represent England in an international rounders tournament in Guernsey. Her £200 Inspire Award will help offset some of the costs of her forthcoming trip.

"It means so much to me to represent my country at rounders," said Tia, who is also a member of the under-16s Leicester City women's football team. "Being able to compete at the highest level of your own sport is a great honour and will be a great experience for me."

Talented hockey player Muhammad, 14, from Stocking Farm in Leicester, has already been spotted and invited to attend an England hockey performance centre.

Muhammad said: "My £150 Inspire Awards grant means a great deal to me as I pursue my goal of representing England. Also, as I lost my sister in tragic circumstances, an Inspire grant makes her memory stay strong in me. My sister loved sport and I know she'd be proud of me."

Seventeen-year-old Alma Unsudimi, from Leicester, is very keen to pursue her ambition of becoming a fashion designer. Her current goal is to teach other young people in the community how to sew and develop their creative skills.

Alma will use her £150 Inspire Award to buy a new sewing machine. "This gives me no excuse to wait any longer in pursuing my dreams!" she said. "The Inspire grant makes me feel like somebody truly cares about me and wants to see me succeed."

Curtis Scothern, 16, from Wigston, is an aspiring digital artist. He works closely with local charity Soft Touch Arts, and says: The facilities at Soft Touch are great but I need a drawing tablet of my own so that I can continue my work in my spare time. I would like to share my skills with younger people at the Aspire Life Skills Learning Centre, where I go to paint." Now, thanks to a £150 Inspire Award, Curtis will be able to buy the equipment he needs.

Sixteen-year-old swimmer Daisy Platts, from Whetstone, will put her £200 Inspire Award towards the cost of a new racing suit, as well as towards the costs of competing up and down the country. Already a winner at the International Children's Games, Daisy has swum alongside Olympians and is a role model to others, recently beginning to teach very young swimmers.

"This grant will give me the me confidence and belief to push myself further, which in turn will help me reach the next level in my sport," she said.

Simon Taylor, Inspire Awards project lead for the JHMT, said: "The drive and determination of all these young people to succeed never ceases to amaze me. In some cases, they've overcome huge barriers to follow their goals – and in all cases, they're incredibly deserving of the support we can offer. I applaud them all and very much look forward to hearing about their future achievements."

To find out more about the JHMT and the Inspire Awards, visit www.jhmt.org.uk