Thursday, 10th March 2022
Pendle Leisure Trust wants to give young, local people the opportunity to further their potential in the sporting world by offering free use of its facilities as a means of assisting with training programmes. A number of athletes have already signed up to the Talented Athletes Scheme and are already benefiting from the free use of Pendle Leisure Trust’s facilities.
And we'd like you to meet the newest budding athlete to join the current cohort - Scarlett Lees - from Barrowford!
Scarlett plays for Burnley Netball Club and also represents Lancashire in the sport.
She has been playing netball for Burnley Netball Club since she was 5 years old. When she was 11, she started playing in the Hyndburn Netball League for a team run by her mum. This valuable experience playing against women of all ages helped her to develop her game. Alongside playing in this league, she also started playing for Burnley Netball Club’s team in the Burnley Ladies Netball League - which she still continues to do today, as well as being team captain for her school, St Christopher’s Church of England in Accrington.
When Scarlett was 12 and 13, she represented Lancashire in the under 13s category, playing her favourite positions of goal shooter and goal attack – and last October, at the age of 13, she successfully trialled for the under 15s for Lancashire.
Playing her favourite sport most days of the week, the teenager also coaches the younger members of her club at Burnley, helping them to develop their skills, whilst working towards a Level One Award for England Netball. At school, she also helps the teachers coach the younger teams.
Scarlett said: “I am extremely committed to my netball, having worked hard in all aspects of the sport. I am also dedicated to helping other players - both younger and the same age as me - to develop their own skills; and believe my commitment and own achievements help to encourage them to raise to their own aspirations.”
For more info on our Talented Athletes scheme, to meet the athletes and to apply to be part of the scheme - click here.