County Durham has a legacy of producing sports men and women who have competed at the highest level in their chosen sport. To help maintain this, DIS helps nurture and develop our sporting talent of the future. We work together with the best performers and sports practitioners, and provide support and assistance to optimise training, preparation, and performance in athletes.

Discover the impact DIS has had on County Durham’s next generation of elite athletes.

DIS is delivered in partnership by Durham County Council and Durham University.

Our Athlete Support Scheme provides athletes with easy access to essential training facilities. Support may be subject to change:

• free access to our leisure centre facilities (fitness gym and swimming pool) during opening hours
• free access to strength and conditioning training at Durham University
• free access to a range of specialist workshops
• discounted physiotherapy
• discounted sports psychology

There are strict eligibility criteria for applications as places are limited. DIS is specifically intended to support athletes performing and working at top tier county level (minimum) through to international level, and as the performance pathways for different sports vary hugely, the relevant National Governing Body (NGB) of sport is consulted to ensure that support is offered appropriately.

If this is your first time applying, please email us for advice on the eligibility criteria and how to apply. Applications open each year in February and then close on the 1 March. Applications are then assessed with a 12-month Durham Institute of Sport membership given to those successful to start in April until the end of the following March.

We do have an age restriction for 14 years and above (13 years if in the year 9 school group at the time of application).  This is because much of the support is around strength & conditioning and as places on the scheme are very limited this upper age category is the most suited for the scheme.