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Sutton swimmer Ethan Potter, Mansfield ice skater Darja Pilace and Kirkby ice hockey player Faith Laverty have been awarded grants as part of Nottinghamshire County Council’s Local Improvement Scheme.

The scheme will see athletes benefit from grants of up to £400 to help with expenses such as travel, coaching, competition fees and kit.

Twelve-year-old Ethan is a competitive swimmer and is currently ranked first at both regional and county level and fifth nationally.

He said: I am really pleased to have been awarded funding from Nottinghamshire County Council, and I'm eager to get back in the pool with the rest of my teammates.”

Faith Laverty is an up and coming ice hockey player, who was due to join the England team in an overseas tournament in March 2020 before the coronavirus outbreak struck.

Instead of focusing on the negative and lost opportunity Faith has taken the opportunity to develop skills that she could concentrate on while off the ice.

Faith said: “I was shocked and excited when I heard I’d got the grant, it’s brilliant though because it will help me to keep training. It’s been really hard in this lockdown because the rinks are closed again but I’m still training at home as much as I can with online programmes and challenges my coaches set.

“I’m so looking forward to getting back on the ice once the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted and actually playing a game. I miss training, I miss my coaches and I miss my team.”

Ten-year-old Darja is currently ranked the nation’s best ice-skater for her age group

Darja has kept to a strict training schedule over the past year and during the national lockdowns, having six to seven fitness and training lessons a week and virtual sessions with her coach.

She’s also been enjoying daily skating outdoors with special inline roller blades, getting out whatever the weather to try and ensure her skills are not lost for when she can get back onto the ice.

Keen to encourage others to get involved, Darja often invites friends and classmates to competitions and fun skate sessions where she teaches basic skills.