ELEVEN talented young people from Leicester and Leicestershire are the latest to receive an Inspire Award small grant from local charity - the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust (JHMT) - to help them reach their goals in sport, creative arts, music, community, and entrepreneurism.

Edie Wighton, Emma Graham-Brown, Ezra Vickers, Harry Donald, Jack Llewellyn, MIA Anderson- Stroud, Mia Smith, Morgan Hall, Ruby Suffolk, Henry Hughes and Phoebe Langlands have all been awarded grants of up to £500 to help them fulfil their ambitions in their different fields.

The Inspire Awards were set up to help young people aged 13-21 from Leicester and Leicestershire to achieve their goals in the fields of music, arts, sports, entrepreneurism and community endeavour. Since the awards' inception in 2014, £65,000 has been awarded to help 302 young people flourish and do amazing things.

The JHMT was set up in memory of Leicester teenager Joe Humphries, who collapsed and died in October 2012 while out jogging near his family home in Rothley, Leicestershire. Joe was a victim of sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS) – a group of lethal heart diseases which can cause sudden cardiac death in young people. The JHMT provides free CPR training, helps to fund community defibrillators and campaigns for better understanding of SADS, as well as running the Inspire Awards small grants scheme

Edie Wighton is aged 14 and from Broughton Astley. In a very short space of time since taking up Karate in 2020, Edie is now preparing to represent England at the prestigious Wado-Kai International Cup, August 16th and 17th, 2025, at the iconic Nippon Budokan Stadium in Tokyo, Japan and also the Japanese Wadokai National Championships. Edie's journey is nothing short of inspiring. From a chance beginning to an international competitor. Edie said: "To be awarded this Inspire grant (£300) from the trust means so much to me, it will go a long way in my additional training I'll be doing leading up to Japan. I'm really excited about competing for England at the world championships."

Emma Graham-Brown is aged 15, and from Anstey. She is another talented multi-sport athlete from Leicestershire who is totally committed to becoming a top-class triathlete. She currently trains between 17-18 hours a week plus schoolwork! In 2024, Emma recently competed for the first time in the British Super Series. The Super Series is the National age group series run by British Triathlon, with seven to eight triathlons and aquathlons across the UK from Scotland, to Wales, to London and the Midlands, culminating in the Super Series Grand Final. Emma is keen to raise her standard of performance and applied for grant support to cover specialist coaching and a computer for her bike.

Emma said: "Thanks to the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust's grant support for £300, I am able to fund the triathlon coaching and training I need as well as a bike computer to help me to track and log my training on the bike for the upcoming 2025 British Triathlon Super Series where I am looking forward to testing myself against the best athlete from across the UK again."

Ezra Vickers is 14 years of age and from Mountsorrel village. He is one of a growing number of multi-talented young athletes from Leicestershire who have taken up martial arts ( Karate) in recent years which has resulted in his selection to represent England in international tournaments. This year the Wadokai International Cup will be held in Japan at the iconic Budokan arena and Ezra has been selected to represent England in kumite and kata. In addition, he has recently been accepted onto the English Karate Federation (covers ALL karate styles in England) national kumite squad which further highlights his skills and commitment to the sport. The EKF is the sports highest level in the country and means Ezra would be eligible to compete at the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane.

Ezra said: 'The grant ( £300) from JHMT is brilliant. It means I'll be able to train and compete leading up to Japan and give myself the best chance to succeed."

Harry Donald is 13 years old, from Anstey, Leics and he has been on his BMX bike ever since he was four years of age. This talented young rider from Leicester has already achieved so much in the sport and is now training and preparing with his sights on a good performance at the World Championships in August. Further afield, with BMX racing is now on the Olympics events programme and the current growth of the sport across the UK, this is providing an added to incentive to young BMX riders like Harry that anything is possible, including representing Team GB at a future Olympics.

Harry said: " It means the world to me to receive an Inspire grant (£300) since it will help me fund training sessions and travelling across the country/world to help me achieve my goals for the 2025 season and my future."

Jack Llewellyn is 18 years of age and from Earl Shilton, Leics. This talented multi-sport specialist has been involved in triathlon and working his way up through the ranks since he was nine years of age to present day. Alongside a demanding weekly training schedule is combined with studying for a BTEC in Sport and Exercise Science & Diploma in Sporting Excellence at Loughborough College.

Jack said: " "My long-term goals are to compete in the World Triathlon Championship Series, the highest level of triathlon you can compete in and potentially qualify for the Olympic Games. My short-term goals are to qualify for the European Junior Championships and the World Junior Championships in the next few years, meaning I'll be representing Great Britain at the highest level of triathlon for my age group."

"I am also very grateful to the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust for the Inspire grant (£300). This will enable me to continue with the sport I love and will go towards the race entry fees and ongoing equipment required." added Jack.

Mia Smith is 15 years of age and from LeicesterShe isa member of the Premier Star Cheerleading group and has been since the age of three. During this time up to present day, she has totally dedicated herself to the sport and trains up to nine hours a week. Having represented the Cheerleading group in many international and world competitions, the current focus is the next level championships and All-Star Worlds in Orlanda, Florida, in April 2025. Mia is also passing on her knowledge of the sport as a junior coach to support a younger team within the group.

Mia said: "Thank you to the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust for awarding me this grant (£300). This will enable me to compete on the Allstar Worlds Stage alongside my teammates. It is an amazing opportunity, and I am very grateful."

Ruby Suffolk is 19 years of age and from Leicester. Despite having to deal with many difficult circumstance and challenges, she has found the courage and determination to keep moving forward with such a positive attitude. Ruby is currently studying for a diploma in photography and media.

Ruby said: The Inspire grant (£450) has enabled me to purchase my first ever camera as I aim to make my own social media portfolio page with my work as one day I hope to have my own small business and people teach out to me so I can build up my work."

Henry Hughes is 21 years of age and lives in Loughborough.He is a Deaflympian swimmer who represented Australia on three occasions with his final competition for Australia being named as Australia Seals Captain. Now he is eligible to represent Great Britain after making a dream move to the UK and is looking to make his debut at the 2025 Deaflympics in Tokyo, Japan which he has recently been selected This will also allow him to represent the Leicestershire area on the global stage.

Away from the pool, Henry is also a committed trustee, board member, youth Advisory board Member and ambassador for many organisations.

Henry said: "This Inspire award from the JHMT (£400) with the match funding support from Bradgate Rotary(£400) means a lot to me. It shows that the power of the East Midlands can rally behind a community of achieving and aspiring athletes to represent Great Britain on the global stage. Personally, I feel proud to be a recipient of an award that powers young people and I will put the award to great use when I represent Great Britain later this year at the Deaflympics, since DCMS and the Government does not allow Deaf athletes and Deaflympians to receive public lottery funding."

Phoebe Langlands is 14 years of age and from Long Clawson, Leics. This multi -talented young triathlete has successfully gained a place on the Midlands Triathlon Academy. Shis is currently ranked fourth in UK athletics for under 15's and a county champion in cross country and track. For the past two years, Phobe has been the highest-placed Leicestershire athlete in the under-15's cross country category in English schools.

Phoebe said: "I am so grateful to the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust and CF Construction for the Inspire award which has awarded me a grant ( £440) so I can buy a cycle computer to help me develop my cycling further and be more independent. They have given me the opportunity to go on a cycle specific training camp in Derbyshire with the Midlands Academy to which I am able to access specialist triathlon coaching."

Morgan Hall is 18 years of age and has overcome many challenges in her life with support from Pathways Provision CIC, and has a passion for drama and the arts and cooking. The Inspire grant will help Morgan try new activities and learn new skills, including health and wellbeing classes and cookery,and to obtain her Food Hygiene Level 2 Certificate which is required to work within the industry. This will boost her knowledge and confidence to enable her to fulfil her goal of a catering career.

Morgan said:" I am very excited that Pathways are teaching me cookery skills as I want to be a chef when I am older. I have been at Pathways since it opened in October 2024, and I have learnt so much about myself and I am working on how to become independent. I am grateful for the Inspire grant ( £250) as It is going to help me progress my skills and my ability to learn more."

In addition, Mia Anderson- Stroud is set to benefit from a second Inspire grant (£250) to help her pursue a career in musical theatre.

Steve Humphries, Joe's dad and chair of JHMT said: " It's been a flurry of activity in the first quarter of 2025 for the JHMT Inspire grant awards. The grants awarded cover community, sport, education, and creative arts. All of the successful applicants are so deserving of support from Inspire for being so resilient, determined and are willing to work so very hard and make many sacrifices to be the best they can be. Once again, we are so pleased that as part of Joe's legacy the grants are making such a difference and are gratefully received."

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