We are proud to announce a landmark partnership with The Athlete Place, an online platform developed to support the next generation of athletes and their families with trustworthy, holistic guidance when pursuing a sporting career.
As part of the new partnership, all pupils on the Student Athlete Programme, an internal programme for exceptionally talented athletes competing at a national level will receive free, 24/7 access to the app, making the Loughborough Schools Foundation one of the first independent schools in the UK to offer this service without charge.
Founded by Loughborough University (LU) graduate and former Great Britain Junior 400m hurdler Joe Fuggle, The Athlete Place was born out of his own experiences navigating the challenges of elite sport. Launched via the University’s Enterprise Network, and now developed within LU’s award-winning business incubator, LUinc., the platform is gaining national traction for its transformative approach to athlete wellbeing, performance and education.
Jo Hackett, director of sport at Loughborough Schools Foundation said: “This is a really powerful addition to our athlete development model. At LSF, we are committed to supporting not just the athlete, but the whole person. The app brings together the critical areas that influence success in sport – nutrition, wellbeing, mindset, performance, safeguarding all in one accessible and trusted space. Our pupils will benefit enormously from this unique opportunity.”
A dedicated under-18s area ensures that content is age-appropriate and safeguarding-compliant, allowing senior pupils to explore the platform in a secure environment. With exclusive features such as ‘Elite Athlete Insights’, students can hear directly from sporting heroes and role models, bridging the gap between aspiration and lived reality in elite sport.
The partnership aligns seamlessly with the LSF’s Player Pathway Programmes, which are offered for rugby, cricket, hockey and most recently football. These complement the Foundation’s broader commitment to nurturing student-athletes across all disciplines, academically, physically, and emotionally.
Endorsed by Olympic silver medallist Colin Jackson, the app takes a 360-degree approach to athlete development, combining expert-led guidance with lived experiences from elite-level performers. It covers a wide array of topics from nutrition, sleep and training routines to emotional resilience, mental health, and clean sport – making it one of the most comprehensive athlete support resources available today.
“This partnership will empower young athletes with the knowledge and support they need to thrive, not just in their sport, but in all areas of life. As someone who’s lived the highs and lows of elite sport, it’s rewarding to now help others through this platform. The commitment Loughborough Schools Foundation has to its pupil’s development truly sets them apart and we’re excited to offer additional support to the athletes of the future.”
Joe Fuggle, Founder of The Athlete Place
By embedding this pioneering platform into its student sport provision, Loughborough Schools Foundation continues to set the benchmark for what holistic athlete education and support can, and should, look like.
