By Mike Rowbottom

Pippa MiddletonJanuary 11 - The Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust has had two pieces of good news this week – learning that Pippa Middleton, younger sister of the Duchess of Cambridge, will be working for it in the run-up to the London 2012 Games, and being named as a delivery partner in the new £1 billion ($1.5 billion/€1.2 billion) Youth and Community Strategy unveiled by Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt.


The sporty younger sister of the Duchess of Cambridge will help boost the profile of the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust, which mentors young people who are disadvantaged, in the months leading up to this year's Olympics.

"Pippa is going to be doing something for my own charity leading up to the Games," Dame Kelly told the Daily Telegraph.

"I'm not really supposed to talk about it yet, so I can't tell you anymore."

Middleton, who has taken part in several triathlons and road races over the past few months, is reportedly in the running to join Dame Kelly, the Duchess of Cambridge and Princes William and Harry as an official ambassador for the Games.

Meanwhile Sport England will fund the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust to expand its Get on Track programme which supports young people at the very margins of society.

The announcement was made at the Youth Sport Summit by Secretary of State, Jeremy Hunt, and focussed on the Government's new strategy to encourage young people to play sport for life.

The move is a key part of a £1 billion ($1.5 billion/€1.2 billion), five-year youth and community sport strategy published today that will deliver on Sebastian Coe's 2012 Games bid promise to inspire a generation to get involved in sport.

Around £450 million ($690 million/€543 million) will go to sports governing bodies between 2013 and 2017 for their "whole sport plans".

Around 60 per cent will benefit young people aged between 14 and 25 so that sports are completely focussed on helping to drive a sporting habit for life.

Dame Kelly_Holmes_in_front_of_boys_playing_basketball
"I am delighted that my charity the DKH Legacy Trust is playing a role in Sport England's new Youth and Community Strategy," said Dame Kelly (pictrued above) , who won gold medals in the Olympic 800 and 1500 metres at Athens in 2004.

"We care passionately about creating life chances for young people and through this funding our successful Get on Track programme will be able to reach so many more young people.

"We will be giving them the chance to get engaged in sport, and begin to develop the communication, personal development and life skills they need to succeed: not just in sport, but in life.

"We do this by providing the young people we work with mentors from our team of Olympians, Paralympians, World and Commonwealth Champions.

"They get to learn from athletes who have experienced the highs and lows of world class competition, know what it is like to face adversity, and still overcome the odds to succeed.

"At a time when over a million 16-24 year olds are not in education employment or training, this support is critical to a young person's future."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
September 2011: Dame Kelly launches new partnership with University of Bedfordshire
September 2010: Dame Kelly presents awards to Get on Track graduates
June 2010: Cathy Wood - Dame Kelly Holmes Olympic gold medals leaving a real legacy
February 2010: Dame Kelly Holmes Trust to be charity partner of Human Race events
January 2010: Dame Kelly Trust to deliver London 2012 Young Leaders Programme