The aim of a Personal Development Award (PDA) is to help World Class Programme (WCP) athletes, continue to develop as a person as well as a performer whilst on the WCP. Your development is important for your mental health and well-being as well as your preparation for transition and future life success. Your PDA can contribute towards the costs of academic and vocational studies, professional training and qualifications, personal development and activities which enhance life/sport balance, thereby having a beneficial effect on you as a person as well as a performer.
Here are some examples of what athletes have used their PDAs for:
The PDA is accessible to all athletes (APA levels A+ to E) on the WCP. The amount you can apply for is dependent upon you APA level. If you are on a A+ to C level APA, you can apply for a maximum of £750 in any 12month period and if you are on a D or E level APA, you can apply for a maximum of £250 in any 12month period. You can apply multiple times across the 12month period as long as you have budget available. Athletes transitioning from the world class programme can also continue to access their PDA for 12months.
The first step is to discuss with your Performance Lifestyle (PL) practitioner what personal development might look like for you – what is relevant and interesting for you and how might your chosen activity fit with your current performance ambitions and commitments. Your PL practitioner will then talk you through the application process and will be there to support each step of the way.
The Performance Lifestyle team’s central theme of #More2Me, encourages athletes to enhance their balance between sports and life. It recognises the advantages of planning for a post-sports life. The PDA's primary goal is to help athletes prepare for their future endeavours while also encouraging them to discover interests, hobbies, and activities that not only rejuvenate their enthusiasm for sports but also nurture a well-rounded identity.
Please speak to your Performance Lifestyle practitioner for more information.
It can get a little tricky keeping up with all the acronyms in high-performance sport. Keep track of them all below.
AMS – Athlete Medical Scheme
Medical insurance scheme which covers the costs of healthcare for funded athletes who are members of Olympic and Paralympic sports’ World Class Programmes.
APA – Athlete Performance Award
National Lottery-funded grant aimed to enable athletes to pursue medal success in the Olympic or Paralympic Games and in other major championship events.
BEAA – British Elite Athlete Association
The independent athlete representative body, providing support, representation, and community. Responsible for giving you confidential guidance and ensuring you’re represented in high-performance system decisions.
BOA – British Olympic Association
National Olympic Committee for the United Kingdom.
BPA – British Paralympic Association
National Paralympic Committee for the United Kingdom.
CMO – Chief Medical Officer
Medical professional to deal with all medical sporting needs.
HPS – High Performance System
All the organisations and funding systems in place to support Olympic and Paralympics sport in the UK.
IF – International Federation
IFs establish the rules that govern their sport and ensure they are applied. They are responsible for the technical aspects of their sport at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
IOC – International Olympic Committee
Serves as the overarching governing body of the Olympic Games and the leader of the Olympic Movement.
NGB – National Governing Body
An organisation that governs and administers a sport on a national basis.
NOC – National Olympic Committee
Is the British Olympic and Paralympic decision and policy making body.
PAA – Performance Athlete Agreement
Sets out requirements, expectations, and obligations of athletes and their National Governing Body on all matters relating to participation in the World Class Performance Programme.
PD – Performance Director
Closely monitor core aspects of the programme such as training and competition activity, delivery of athlete support, and development of team culture and the daily training environment.
PDA – Personal Development Award
Financial award to support WCP athletes, continue to develop as a person as well as a performer while on the WCP.
PL – Performance Lifestyle
Every funded current and transitioning athlete on the WCP is entitled to receive Performance Lifestyle support – a practitioner that provides holistic support to athletes.
PSP – Performance Support Personal
All practitioners that work within the WCP or high-performance system.
S&C – Strength and Conditioning
Coach who plans, delivers, and reviews the physical and physiological preparation of athletes aligned to specific sports performance outcomes.
SRUK – Sport Resolutions UK
Independent, not-for-profit, dispute resolution service for sport. It operates globally and offers arbitration, mediation, tribunal, investigation services among others.
TMA – Team Membership Agreement or Athlete Agreement
Sets out requirements, expectations, and obligations of athletes and their National Governing Body.
UKSI– UK Sports Institute
The largest single provider of science, medicine, technology, data, and engineering services within the sport sector to Olympic and Paralympic sports in the UK.
WCP – World Class Programme
Multi-agency and multi-disciplinary support for athletes in Olympic and Paralympic sports.
The Athlete Medical Scheme (AMS) is a medical insurance scheme which covers the costs of healthcare for funded athletes who are members of Olympic and Paralympic sports’ World Class Programmes.
National Governing Bodies – funded or unfunded – may also purchase places on the AMS at a cost agreed by UK Sport to provide medical cover to athletes not on a World Class Programme.
The aim of the AMS is to drive an efficient and effective medical scheme to develop athlete health and wellbeing. UK Sport pays an annual premium to cover the costs of claims and, subject to approval and conditions of cover, the athlete receives healthcare. It is a free service to athletes and no costs are recharged to their governing bodies.
When your funding comes to an end you are covered for three months for existing concerns as part of your transition support.
FAQs below or you can contact the BEAA's support team for more information.
Cover is usually provided by Bupa.
Athletes should have access to cover through their team doctor or physio. Any communication that BUPA have will go directly to you, so ensure your medical staff at your sport are up to date with the latest information.
You will be given a booklet in your welcome pack that is your Bupa membership guide. The typical cover is for muscles, bones and joints as well as mental health. Your programme medical staff will be able to provide further details.
Cover for pre-existing conditions lasts for three months after you have left the World Class Programme. No new injuries can be covered in this time.
Non-sporting medical issues can be covered if they have an effect directly on your sporting training or performance.