Support for Single Mothers Bursary — £4,000 toward a visit to Osaka Honbu Dojo

Carol

The first beneficiary of the Support for Single Mothers bursary, awarded toward a visit to Osaka Honbu Dojo for herself and her daughter. Carol trains at Sussex Aikido, where Sara often visits. A determined competitor since her earliest days, she went on to join the Shodokan squad that travelled to Japan in the early 2000s. After her daughter Annabelle was born with significant learning disabilities, Carol became a single parent — yet kept training regularly, often travelling up to an hour to reach the dojo, and has steadily earned her way to a very tidy Yondan (4th Dan). She now coaches regularly at Sussex Aikido.

Orange Belt to Shodan Development Bursary — £700

Mai Vu

The first scholarship awarded under the Orange Belt to Shodan Development Bursary, in recognition of Mai’s commitment to aikido as a stalwart member of the Greenwich club. The award supports her travel costs to training and to seminars in the UK and abroad.