Athletes can transition away from World Class Programme sport at various stages of their career for a number of reasons including:
The high-performance system recognises the significant change to an athlete’s life when they step away from a World Class Programme and therefore the following support is available:
• APA (Athlete Performance Award) payments can be made for a maximum of 3 months from the date you exit a World Class Programme. This is dependent upon the length of time an athlete has been on programme and will be outlined in an email you will receive form UK Sport.
Got a question? Get in touch with your National Governing Body or contact Athlete.Investment@uksport.gov.uk
• PDA (Personal Development Award) access for up to 12 months after your final APA payment (subject to criteria and the PDA budget being available)
Got a question? Get in touch with your Performance Lifestyle Practitioner to access your award or contact Athlete.Investment@uksport.gov.uk
• AMS (Athlete Medical Scheme) will continue for a maximum 3 months after your final APA payment for any existing medical claims and treatments (no new claims can be opened within the 3 month period) Any treatments pre-authorised by the AMS Manager (AMS@teamgb.com), will need to be completed within this three-month extension. To discuss your options of continued medical cover, and to obtain a no obligation quote, please contact Steven Redman at Steven.Redman@towergate.co.uk or on 023 8082 1202. The offer is available three months beyond your last Athlete Performance Award payment date (and premiums must be backdated where necessary to give continuation of cover)
• Health Assured and Wisdom App Health Assured is an independent and confidential helpline, available 24/7 for up to two years after you leave your funded programme. It offers emotional and practical support, with qualified counsellors, legal advisors, and resources in areas such as health and wellbeing, practical and family matters, financial and legal advice. You’ll also have access to, up to eight one-to-one phone or online, structured counselling support services, and their online wellbeing tools and resources are available via the Wisdom App, using code MHA185657. To access the service scan the QR code, download from the app store, or visit their website: https://wisdom.healthassured.org/login
• Eligible to receive UKSI Performance Lifestyle support & Futures support for a up to 2 years. For more information on this extended support, please contact: PL.Futures@uksportsinstitute.co.uk
• BEAA support can be accessed for 6 months after transition from the World Class Programme. The BEAA stands with you to provide independent and confidential guidance on any questions or concerns you may have while transitioning from your programme or when taking your next steps. You can access support; via email: support@britisheliteathletes.org, website: britisheliteathletes.org, or through Facebook and Instagram direct messages.
You can connect with other former athletes, access career opportunities and support, and join groups based on sports and shared interest via the BEAA Alumni App - athletes that are not already on the app can still access its content as an alumni member at any point.
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.