THE OLYMPIC hopes of Halstead archery ace Imogen Newby have been given a big left thanks to a funding boost from the Essex Community Foundation.

The 15-year-old knows funding is vital if she is to achieve her goal of a place in the Great Britain squad for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris and is delighted to have received a grant of £2,460 to help her pursue her dreams.

Newby, who is a pupil at Hedingham School, has been competing in archery since she was eight years old and has now risen through the sport to be one of the highest-ranked junior archers in the country.

Her next major competition is the Junior National Outdoor Championships next weekend, where she will be hoping to defend the title she won last year and she is thrilled to get a big boost ahead of one of the most important competitions in her calendar.

“Archery is a huge passion of mine and I can’t imagine my life without it,” said Newby.

“I train for hours a week with my coach and travel to the Archery GB Training Academy in Shropshire every two months.

"I am fortunate enough to qualify for competitions across the UK and get to compete against my peers.

“My parents have to pay for every competition, lesson and test that I do.

"So this grant will help us to cover the costs of my training and upcoming competitions, which includes travel and entry fees.

"My dream is to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.”

The grant was jointly awarded from the Essex and Southend Sports Charitable Fund and the Young Sports Fund, which are both managed by Essex Community Foundation (ECF) and are dedicated to supporting young people where finance is a barrier to them achieving their sporting ambitions.

Newby’s coach, Tony Ferguson, added: “I have coached Imogen for the last five years and she is a talented archer who is driven to be the best she can be.

"She is currently ranked as one of the best in her age group in Great Britain and this funding will to help her to progress and to buy the high-quality equipment she needs for competitions.”

Caroline Taylor, chief executive of ECF, said: “We are pleased to have been able to support Imogen and wish her every success in the future.

"ECF has a small number of funds that are dedicated to supporting individuals to reach their full potential, including grants for education, sports, music and theatrical performance.

"If you need financial support to pursue your dreams, I advise you to call the grants team on 01245 356018.”

For more information about Essex Community Foundation, visit www.essexcommunityfoundation.org.uk