In June 2016, the third Women's Sport Leadership Academy (WSLA) will be hosted by the University of Chichester, co-delivered by the Anita White Foundation (AWF) and Females Achieving Brilliance (FAB).  This programme aims to increase the confidence and competence of women working in sport, such that they can, in turn, support other women and girls to gain the benefits of involvement in sport. To date, 76 women from 22 countries have attended the WSLA programme,and 36 women from 17 countries have been accepted onto the programme for 2016.   Graduates from the WSLA programme have described it as “life changing”, “a unique opportunity”, and “the best learning experience of my life”.

Some of the women who have been accepted for 2016 come from parts of the world where women face particular challenges in working as a leader in sport, and have not yet been able to secure sufficient funds for their travel to the UK.  In order to support these women, Elizabeth Pike (Chair of the AWF and one of the WSLA facilitators) has accepted a challenge to cycle 76 kilometers along the River Lea “from source to sea” (via the London 2012 Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park), in celebration of the 76 women who have so far graduated from the programme, to raise additional funds.

If 76 people pledge £7.60 each, we will raise enough money to pay the airfare for one woman travelling from Africa.  Any additional funds raised will go toward supporting more women travelling from parts of the world where women face particular difficulties in securing financial aid. 

If you pledge £7.60, you will be recognised as an official supporter of the Anita White Foundation,which enables you to have priority access to future AWF events (which have included talks from Olympic, World and Commonwealth medallists).

If you pledge £76.00,you will be recognised as an official supporter of the Anita White Foundation and Women’s Sport Leadership Academy, and receive an invitation to attend the WSLA Celebration Reception, where you can meet this year's participants as well as graduates from previous years.

If you pledge £760.00,you will be recognised as an official supporter of the Anita White Foundation and Women’s Sport Leadership Academy, receive an invitation to attend the WSLA Celebration Reception, and be offered naming rights as an official WSLA Delegate Sponsor.

For further details, please see:

Anita White Foundation: www.chi.ac.uk/awf

Females AchievingBrilliance: http://www.femalesachievingbrilliance.org.uk/

Women’s Sport LeadershipAcademy: http://www.chi.ac.uk/research/sport/womens-sport-leadership-academy