WORCESTERSHIRE non-profit organisation CG5 have awarded their first grants to a trio of up-and-coming local athletes.

The sports-related group were founded to promote participation in sport and provide financial backing to local disabled athletes and young sports people.

They have awarded a total of £2,000 to the aspiring Olympians with the money being used to fund equipment and training.

Callie-Ann Halliday, a 21-year-old physical education student from the University of Worcester, was awarded a grant to help her fulfil her canoeing dream.

Halliday, who has severe hearing loss, is striving to make the Great Britain under 23s squad and has set her sights on the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

The grant will be used by the Malvern competitor, who first represented Team GB when aged 16, to fund the purchase of a waterproof hearing aid.

CG5’s second grant was awarded to Malvern schoolgirl Aimee Stephenson.

The 14-year-old is one of the country’s brightest sailing talents who also has her sights set on the 2020 Olympics with an immediate aim to make the British youth sailing squad for the 2015 winter season.

Stephenson was awarded a grant to help upgrade her boat and race-standard rigging.

Staying in the water, the charity’s final grant was awarded to 14-year-old Jessica Magson.

The Stone teenager is another high-potential canoeist and part of the Canoeing England talent programme.

She has been invited to take part in an exclusive development camp with the squad in France, where she will be training alongside premier division athletes.

The grant will help fund Magson’s participation in the camp.

The group’s trustee Steve Edwards said: “The aim of CG5 is to encourage participation and development in all sports while at the same time inspiring people to reach an elite level.

“Our first round of grants have been awarded to three amazing young sports people from Worcestershire.

“Callie-Ann, Aimee and Jessica all have superb sporting careers ahead of them so we are delighted to be playing our role in their development and look forward to tracking their progress.

“We will be making further grants later this year and throughout 2016 so would urge readers to get in touch if they feel they need support.”

CG5 was established in 2014 by a group of four trustees.

Aside from Edwards, they include Worcestershire businessmen Simon Secretan, Phill Mason and former Worcester Warriors lock Craig Gillies.

They award grants of up to £1,000 per person with the trustees deciding on which individuals to support.

People who take part in the events hosted by CG5 also have the opportunity to give their opinion on grant awards.

The CG5 name takes its inspiration from the number five Gillies wore during his 11 years at Sixways, which culminated in a high-profile testimonial year in 2013-14.

For further information about CG5, visit cg5.org.uk.