Dame Kelly Holmes Q&As

We have asked Dame Kelly questions about the Trust. Read her thoughts below!

What is the DKH Legacy Trust?

The DKH Legacy Trust builds on the charity work I have always done throughout my career. It is my ongoing commitment to a cause I believe in: Inspiring young people to find and fulfil their potential in sport or in life through our workforce of elite sports performers.

Why did you set it up?

I set the Trust up because I have seen firsthand the difference role models and mentors can make to the development of young people. I also know how hard it can be to transition from being an athlete for many years to entering 'normal life'. So it seemed a perfect fit to me to support retiring elite performers in making the most of their skills and experiences to realise the talents in others, and in doing so, begin to build a new career for themselves.

What does it do?

You should read that section of the website! No seriously, our mission is to 'Inspire young people to find and fulfil their potential in sport or in life through our workforce of elite sports performers'. By harnessing the talents of our elite sports performers, our sporting heroes can then play a key role in developing sport across the UK helping to nurture talented young performers to be the best they can be, as well as working with young people of different backgrounds, supporting them to find and believe in their own talents.

When did it launch?

I have been working on the Trust since January 2008 but the Trust really became operational when the CEO started in July 2008. We have chosen not to do a big launch about what we plan to do, instead we want to become known for what we are doing and have done!

What have you done so far?

We have recruited a whole host of retired elite performers who would like some support in building their new careers. Using some of the best people in the field, we are working with the athletes individually, providing professional development and bespoke training. We also give deployment and employment opportunities in projects and programmes which give the performers the chance to make the most of their skills and experiences, and at the same time, make a big difference to the young people we are working with.

One of our first and ongoing 'Inspiring Sport' projects has been our BT 'Backing Talent' programme in the Olympic Boroughs of East London. Our harnessing talent athletes are working with identified talented young sport performers, providing education and mentoring support to help them know what it takes to reach the top in elite sport.

The Trust also recently completed our first 'Inspiring Lives' pilot of the Skill Force 'Making Headway' preventative intervention project. This programme, which is delivered by a combination of our Harnessing Talent Athletes and Skill Force's predominately former Service Instructors, targets approximately 600 young people, aged between 14 and 16, who are from disadvantaged or marginalised backgrounds such as those from low income families, ethnic minorities or the physically challenged.

What next?

Well, I believe passionately that everyone has a talent, they just have to find it, and elite sports performers can be a great stimulus for young people to find and discover their own talents. That's why we are coordinating a new project called 'Get on Track' which will provide stepping stones for vulnerable young people into volunteering, work placements and employment opportunities. 'Get on Track' will be an intensive course of 'fit for empolyment' activities combining team building, communication, and presentation and reflection skills for the NEETs (not in education, employment or training) we are working with. We aim to get their lives on track through the support of our elite mentors.