A young martial arts star has taken up a new ambassador role and hopes to inspire a new generation to get into sport.

Eastern Daily Press: Jack Spall. Picture: SubmittedJack Spall. Picture: Submitted (Image: Archant)

Jack Spall, from Attleborough, will attend sporting events and make school visits across the country throughout the year after becoming sporting ambassador for the Norfolk-based charity, the Premier Foundation.

Mr Spall, 18, is the British heavyweight taekwondo champion after taking gold at every tournament he took part in last year.

He trains with Team GB and hopes to represent Britain at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

Mr Spall said he was thrilled with the new ambassador role.

Eastern Daily Press: Jack SpallJack Spall (Image: Archant)

He said: 'This is a fantastic opportunity that I am really pleased to be offered. This is a great way to say thank you for all the local support I've had, and it means I can give something back.

'Sport has always been a big part of my life, especially taekwondo, and I've always managed to fit in training and competitions alongside my education.

'I'm really looking forward to working with young people across the country, encouraging them to be active and take part in the wide range of sports on offer.'

Mr Spall took up taekwondo aged six, and now, at 6' 8', he is the joint third tallest taekwondo fighter in the world.

The Premier Foundation is a new charity which aims to help children and young people under 25 who are disengaged, disadvantage or classed as 'hard to reach' by giving them with opportunities to get into sport and performing arts.

Amelia Epton, the charity's chief executive, said ambassadors such as Mr Spall were part of the foundation's excellence scheme.

She said: 'We are delighted that Jack has agreed to be a sporting ambassador for Premier Foundation's excellence scheme.

'One of Premier Foundation's aims is to discover and support the sports stars of the future, and Jack is an excellent role model for young people. His achievements in taekwondo from such an early age, are truly inspiring.'

To find out more about the excellence scheme, visit www.premierfoundation.org.uk or email info@premierfoundation.org.uk

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