Ten talented young people from Leicester and Leicestershire are the latest recipients of Inspire Awards from the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust (JHMT), receiving small grants to help them progress in sport, music, performing arts and community-focused ambitions.
The grants, worth up to £500 each, will support a wide range of opportunities including specialist training, competition costs, equipment, travel and auditions. Since the Inspire Awards scheme was launched in 2014, JHMT has awarded more than £72,000 to 327 young people aged 13–21, helping them develop their skills, confidence and future career pathways.
Picture: Harriet Hughes
This year’s recipients include dancer and musical theatre performer Charlotte Vaughan, who is using her grant to travel to higher education dance auditions; competitive swimmer Dorothy Plumber, who will attend a high-performance training camp in Tenerife; and national-level cyclist Harriet Hughes, supported to compete in major UK track events. Annalise Powell, a member of Team England Adaptive Abilities Cheer, is receiving support towards training and competition costs ahead of the 2026 ICU World Championships in Florida.
Several awards have also been made to young people pursuing careers in the performing arts and music. Aspiring West End performer Flossie Wixey, actor Olivia Graham, and performer Nia Sood will use their grants to access professional training, auditions and courses, while composer Agnieszka Cygan has been supported to purchase industry-standard music software to further her studies. Viren Mangharam, a young rower and aspiring coach, will use his grant to gain coaching qualifications, enabling him to give back to the sport.
Picture: Viren Mangharam
The Inspire Awards are run by the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust, which was established in memory of Leicester teenager Joe Humphries, who died in 2012 from sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS). In addition to the grants scheme, the charity provides free CPR training, helps fund community defibrillators and campaigns to raise awareness of SADS.
Steve Humphries, Joe’s father and chair of JHMT, said: “We are delighted to award another ten Inspire grants to talented young people from across Leicester and Leicestershire. These awards are about more than financial support – they show belief in young people and help them take vital next steps towards achieving their ambitions, which is a central part of Joe’s legacy.”
For more information, visit: https://www.jhmt.org.uk/
