Special Olympics GB has reached a major milestone after welcoming 17 new graduates from its Athlete Leadership Programme, taking the total number of athletes to complete the programme to 100.
The six-month Athlete Leadership Programme is designed to support athletes to develop independence, employability and leadership skills, while building the confidence to become advocates, coaches and spokespeople for the Special Olympics GB movement. The programme has been running since 2022 and is open to athletes across England, Scotland and Wales.
The 17 athletes in the Class of 2025 completed a series of six online workshops, developing new skills to support their individual leadership journeys and help them make a positive impact within their clubs, communities and beyond.
“There have been some fantastic journeys made by athletes who have completed the Athlete Leadership Programme,” said Matthew Chilvers, Athlete Leadership Development Officer at Special Olympics GB.
“We have seen athletes move into paid employment, take on coaching roles within their clubs, and step up to international committee positions with Special Olympics International and Special Olympics Europe Eurasia.
“We’re incredibly proud of what our Athlete Leaders have achieved, and we congratulate the 17 athletes who have completed the programme in 2025.”
Become an Athlete Leader
Athletes who are interested in learning more about the Athlete Leadership Programme can register their interest via the link below. Simply sign up and the team will be in touch with further details when the next programme launches.
An online forum to explain more about Athlete Leadership will be held in the coming weeks, and all athletes who have expressed an interest will be invited.
Please note that the Athlete Leadership programme is for registered Special Olympics GB athletes aged 18 and above. Registration closes Friday 27th February 2026 and