Boccia England is delighted to welcome Lauren Kianchehr into a new role as Talent Hub Lead Coach.
Well known throughout the boccia community, Lauren already coaches performance athletes through the Boccia England pathway, as well as with Boccia UK on their World Class Performance and Transition programmes.
Her new role sees her take the lead for the Talent Hub in Bristol, designed to identify, recruit, and coach young athletes from the region. Supported by Sport England funding, the Bristol Hub is expected to be the first of several Hubs across England.
Ambitious Talent Plan Launched
Lauren’s appointment marks an important step forward in the delivery of our ambitious new Talent Plan for 2025–2029, aimed at transforming the way young disabled athletes are identified, recruited, and supported within the sport.
The four-year plan responds to the need to broaden and strengthen the boccia talent pathway, particularly for younger athletes. While a small cohort of young disabled people are currently involved, the organisation recognises the need for a more sustainable, inclusive, and targeted approach to talent development.
At the heart of the strategy is a renewed focus on young people aged 14 to 23 across schools, Further Education, and Higher Education settings. Boccia England will prioritise those most likely to be eligible for classification and progression within the performance pathway, while ensuring success is defined by each individual athlete’s goals and aspirations.
The plan builds on strong foundations from the previous cycle, with a particular emphasis on identifying and nurturing the right players for the sport. Working in collaboration with key partners, Boccia England aims to recruit a more diverse pool of athletes, with a specific focus on young people and females from a wide range of backgrounds.
This approach is underpinned by significant participation numbers already present in the system. Through the School Games programme, more than 20,000 young people take part in boccia, with 65 per cent identifying as having Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Boccia England sees this as clear latent demand and a vital opportunity to strengthen recruitment, talent identification, and the development of younger players within the sport.
The Talent Plan outlines three key outcomes for the 2025–2029 period. The first is improved recruitment of classifiable young athletes through the creation of a new network of three Boccia England Talent Hubs. These hubs will be based in areas of high population density with the first area launching in Bristol.
Lead Coach for the Bristol Talent Hub, Lauren said,
“We know there is incredible talent out there, and our goal is to make sure every young athlete has the opportunity to high quality coaching alongside their club or school training. By inviting the boccia community to submit players, we can spot potential early, provide the right support, and help new athletes reach their full potential whether that’s competing at the national finals, internationally or becoming the next start at the Paralympics. We can’t wait to see the next generation of boccia stars emerge.”
Can you spot the next Boccia Paralympian?
As part of the Talent Plan rollout, Boccia England is now inviting the boccia community to help identify the next generation of players by submitting potential talent for the Under 23 classification pathway, with a specific focus on BC1–BC4 athletes.
Clubs, schools, coaches, families, and players themselves are encouraged to put forward young people who show potential to progress within the sport. Submissions are designed to be simple and accessible, requiring only a short video clip of the player throwing a ball or a brief segment of gameplay.
The initiative aims to widen access to the talent pathway, remove barriers to entry, and ensure promising young athletes are identified early and supported appropriately as they develop.
Boccia England understands that classification can be challenging for young players and their families. To make the process easier, participants can check their existing classification profile online and upload their video submission through the same portal. This ensures that all players are considered fairly and can progress smoothly within the Under 23 pathway.