The JHMT Inspire Awards scheme has been launched to help young people in Leicester and Leicestershire achieve their ambitions.

The JHMT Inspire Awards have been set up by local charity the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust to help young people flourish across a wide variety of community, sporting, entrepreneurial and creative arts activities.

The Joe Humphries Memorial Trust (JHMT) is a charity set up in memory of Leicester teenager Joe Humphries, who collapsed and died while out jogging. 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.

Martin Johnson CBE, patron of the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust, said:

"Tragically, 12 young people like Joe fall victim to SADS every week in the UK – that's well over 600 hundred young lives cut short every year. These young people are denied the chance to experience life to the full and develop their potential.
"The Inspire Awards are part of the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust's long-term charitable aims to make a difference. Through Joe's legacy, the awards are designed to inspire young people to fulfil their potential and develop their talents."

The awards will work by offering young people aged 13-19 the financial support, expert advice or counselling they need to achieve their goals. The awards were officially launched with the help of local firm Gateley solicitors, who hosted a gala dinner at Leicester Tigers on Wednesday 11 June.

Simon Taylor, a partner from Gateley, said:

"As a personal friend of Joe's dad, I feel hugely privileged to help set up this exciting new scheme in memory of Joe and to assist worthy young people in Leicestershire. When I told my partners about the Inspire Awards, they were delighted to be a part of it. We thought a launch dinner to back the Awards would be a great way of kicking things off.

"The JHMT is such a worthy cause and it's great to support a local charity. These awards will allow us to invest in our community by supporting the next generation of citizens."

Under the awards scheme, small grants of up to £500 will be offered to young people, and the Trust will also monitor and support annual awards to some clubs or societies. Applications for grants will be decided by an eminent panel of judges representing sport, politics, education, arts, business and commerce, and music.

The awards are open to young people who live in Leicester or Leicestershire and are either training for a competition in a significant sporting activity that is recognised by the Trust, or pursuing a project to benefit their local community.

Applications will also be considered from young artists or musicians looking to develop their talents.

The Trust will also encourage the sharing of knowledge and practical experience, helping young entrepreneurs to develop their ideas. In these cases, rather than a financial reward, young people will benefit from mentoring, contacts and specialist advice.

From Thursday (12 June), young people who would like to apply for the Inspire Awards can simply complete an online application form – go to www.jhmt.org.uk/inspire , where full terms and conditions are also available.

The Trust will aim to acknowledge all applications within five working days and to determine all applications within 28 days.

Any businesses wishing to find out more about the Inspire Awards and how they can support the Trust can go to: www.jhmt.org.uk or email: inspire@jhmt.org.uk