Kilty and Broom-Edwards set to drive social impact through new ChangeMakers grant

Allwyn, operator of The National Lottery, has announced the Team GB and ParalympicsGB stars who are set to receive grants as part of the ChangeMakers initiative, which will provide a total of £100,000 for athletes to power positive change.

Sixteen current and former National Lottery funded athletes will receive grants of up to £10,000 to support their activity across a wide range of causes including mentoring programmes for disadvantaged children, supporting mental wellbeing, and empowering women and girls with disabilities. From track and field, Richard Kilty and Jonathan Broom-Edwards are part of the initiative.

• Richard Kilty – Richard will be ‘scaling up’ the ‘Sprint to Success’ project, which was founded to increase elite track and field coaching and mentorship for children.
• Jonathan Broom-Edwards – Jonathan will continue evolving and scaling the delivery and impact of the pre-existing ‘Dealing with Adversity Workshops’. The workshop exists to highlight the challenges those with impairments or disabilities face.

Paris Olympic relay bronze medalist, 60m World and double European Indoor Champion, Richard Kilty said; “I am so proud to announce that I will be part of the changemakers initiative.

“This will help me deliver world class coaching & opportunities to youngsters from all backgrounds, who may not be able to afford transport, coaching, competition & kit to participate in athletics.

“The support from Allwyn & UK sport, will open the door to youngsters even from the most deprived parts of my community into the world of world class athletics coaching.

“We will provide them the opportunity to work with international athletes, at top facilities & work with the newest and most initiative athletics technology.

“I want to use this financial support to give youngsters in my community to have a fair opportunity to to start the sport of athletics, straight in to a world class set up with no cost included. I believe this support will be huge for my community & the kick start to something great.”

Three times World Champion and Tokyo Paralympic Champion in the T64 high jump, Jonathan Broom-Edwards said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be part of the ChangeMakers initiative.

“It’s an incredible opportunity to grow and expand my accessible sporting workshops, a project that’s very special and has the potential to positively impact so many lives.

“The workshops offer children a chance to experience simulated disabilities or impairments, helping them understand the challenges faced by their disabled peers.

“It creates lasting impressions and fosters empathy, promoting a more inclusive mindset that they can carry into society, shaping a future where people with disabilities are fully included, respected, and valued.

“This initiative also engages fellow Paralympians, equipping them with the tools and confidence to broaden their social impact.

“It opens up opportunities for them to inspire the next generation, not only by sharing their personal journeys, but also by helping to roll out these workshops more widely,  paving the way for a more inclusive world.

“Sport has so much to offer beyond the physical; it builds resilience, confidence, and emotional strength. For children, it’s a powerful developmental tool that helps them navigate life.

“I’m incredibly grateful to Allwyn, UK Sport, and ParalympicsGB for their support and belief in this project and its potential. I’m so excited for the journey ahead.”

The ChangeMaker initiative is made up of three elements.  Firstly, after the Paris Olympics and Paralympics more than 130 athletes committed to go back across the country to support grassroots projects they are passionate about. The second element enables athletes to apply for grants to support their personal projects, with the successful recipients being announced today. The third strand is a special ChangeMaker ‘Powered By Purpose’ cohort. This is a UK Sport programme which provides athletes with the skills, knowledge and confidence to turn success on the field of play into long-term positive impact for communities.

The National Lottery raises on average £30m every week for National Lottery-funded projects. This is the power behind the social impact that The National Lottery makes across the nation – from arts, to heritage, to community, to sport and our elite athletes. The £1M annual Allwyn Social Value Fund is designed to enhance and support those initiatives and is not being funded by money allocated for National Lottery Good Cause funding or National Lottery players.

ChangeMakers is a partnership between Allwyn, UK Sport, Team GB and ParalympicsGB launched in 2024. The Changemaker initiative was the first campaign launched as part of Allwyn’s commitment to operate the National Lottery in an environmentally and socially responsible way, with £1m annually through its own Social Value Fund.