Sport stars Tyrone Mings, Jonathan Joseph and Sarah Winckless are backing a new fundraising campaign by Millfield School in Street to offer life-changing bursaries to future students.

Tyrone Mings, Aston Villa and England footballer; Jonathan Joseph, Bath Rugby and England rugby player; and Sarah Winckless, Olympic rower, world champion and first woman to umpire the 2021 Oxford and Cambridge boat race; all attended Millfield as bursary recipients and went on to have hugely successful careers.

They are supporting Millfield's Discover Brilliance campaign for bursaries to create opportunities for others to have the life-changing opportunities that they benefitted from.

The Discover Brilliance campaign aims to raise a £100 million endowment fund by 2035 – Millfield's 100th year, which will fully fund 100 boarders in perpetuity. The campaign kicks off with the Street school's first Giving Day on May 26 and 27.

Tyrone, who attended Millfield between 2009 and 2011, said: "I know personally what a difference a bursary or scholarship can make to a young person's life and the platform it gave me to go and achieve better things in my life.

"It's something that's close to my heart because I experienced it and I really believe there are a lot of opportunities that Millfield can create for young individuals, and we can all play our part in uncovering the next sporting or academic star."

Jonathan, who attended Millfield between 2007 and 2009, said: "I know what an opportunity it was for me to come to a school like Millfield, the sporting opportunities, alongside my education and my brother Will having that opportunity also.

"Sport for me plays a huge part in my life, coming to Millfield, playing on such an unbelievable pitch and having some amazing coaches without which I may not be in the position I am today. It had a huge impact on my career and where I ended up getting to."

Sarah, who attended Millfield between 1990 and 1992, said: "I'm supporting the campaign because I had that opportunity and it is crucially important that others have the same."

Millfield was founded by Boss Meyer in 1935 who had a clear vision to provide support to students with limited financial means and the school's present-day bursary provision of around £6 million a year remains guided by that principle.

Headmaster Gavin Horgan, himself a bursary recipient during his school days, said: "A Millfield education is transformational and such opportunities will significantly enhance a child's life chances, future options and life-long outcomes.

"The Discover Brilliance Fund will secure the future of the vision to support students with limited financial means and by working together we can transform many, many lives and that is very exciting. All donations, big and small, will make a huge difference."

Any size donation to the fund can be made via - https://givingday.millfieldschool.com/