UK aviation charitable trust, Launchpoint, has opened applications for the 2025 Ted Lys awards.
Named in honour of a former member of the British Gliding team, who flew in national and European gliding championships from the 1970s up until his untimely death in 1998, the Ted Lys awards are given each year to qualified glider pilots wishing to advance their skills in any sphere of the sport.
Established by Ted’s wife Krystyna and their daughter Karen, in recent years the awards have been made to support:
- Advanced two-seater training for a number of different small groups organised by individuals, clubs or other organisations. Some of these programmes have been delivered at gliding competitions.
- Aerobatics course (Sports Badge)
- Formal XC country training
- An XC training package tailored by the pilot to their own needs
- Advanced training overseas
The application process for 2025 awards is now open up until Sunday 12 January 2025.
Applications are invited from individuals and groups, including clubs. The trust says that while past awards have been focussed on cross-country, competition and mountain flying, proposals for any other aspect of gliding are now also be eligible. Reflecting the pattern of the original Ted Lys awards where recipients attended coaching events with fellow Ted Lys award recipients, the trust says it will be particularly interested in proposals for group participation or specifically organised coaching activity.
Awards are in the form of bursaries towards the costs of coaching and development activities. Acceptable activities will normally include structured training and coaching under the auspices of a club, other training organisation, or recognised coach.
Recipients will be asked to write a brief report of their activity and the benefits they have gained, with a view to encouraging further participation and help with fund raising.
Applications can be made here.
