London and South East law firm Penningtons Solicitors LLP has advised Olympic gold medallist Tessa Sanderson CBE on the establishment of a new charitable foundation – The Tessa Sanderson Foundation – to promote sport for young people and to encourage them to compete on a local, national and international level as part of a drive to build on our Olympic medal success.
The foundation is expected to be financed by a mixture of private donations and local councils. One of its key aims is to expand the sporting opportunities open to underprivileged youngsters by providing them with the funding to have proper coaching. It will also continue the development of the Newham sports academy for children which Tessa founded three years ago. This now coaches children from Newham and neighbouring boroughs in most Olympic sports.
Tessa Sanderson competed in a record six Olympic Games and won a gold medal in the javelin event in Los Angeles in 1984. She was awarded a CBE in the Queen's New Year's Honours list in 2004 in recognition of her services to sport. Commenting on her new foundation, she said: "I am delighted to formally establish a charity which will help both disabled and non disabled youngsters achieve their goals and build on our national level of sporting achievement."
Penningtons advised the new foundation on a pro bono basis. The firm's role included setting up the foundation by limited guarantee, applying to the Charity Commission for its approval, and providing guidance as to how the charity should be administered. Jo Summers, a consultant in Penningtons' private client department, who led the legal team advising Ms Sanderson, said: "We were very pleased to take part in an initiative which will benefit local communities and go as far as helping to increase our medal tally in future Olympic Games."