New scheme launched to inspire 500 young people through London 2012 Games
048/10
29 March 2010
Young people in England and Wales are to be given the chance to become the first ever Opportunity 2012 graduates, Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell said today.
Five hundred 14-19 year olds from England and Wales will take part in Opportunity inspired by 2012. The new scheme will target young people that other initiatives find difficult to engage, such as young carers, those not in education, employment or training and those who have crime or behavioural problems by using the unique appeal of the 2012 Games.
On successful completion of the scheme, graduates will be offered London 2012 rewards such as shadowing international fitness coaches and team physios, watching Olympic athletes in training and sought after work placements with 2012 organisers, LOCOG.
Graduates will come from existing schemes - The Department for Children, Schools and Families’ ‘Youth Community Action’ initiative which is running pilots in Brighton and Hove, Kent, Lincolnshire, Salford and City of York, and the Home Office’s ‘Positive Futures’ initiative which has projects across England and in Wales.
The scheme has been awarded the London 2012 Inspire mark - the badge of the Inspire programme which recognises outstanding non-commercial projects inspired by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
top
Tessa Jowell, Minister for the Olympics and Paralympics said:
”The new scheme will offer 500 young people unique opportunities inspired by 2012. They will receive intensive help, learning new skills and getting new experiences that will change their lives for the better. Those that successfully complete the course will earn unique and exciting Olympic rewards that will further their development. ”
The scheme will operate under the management of prestigious youth charity, The Prince’s Trust, between June 2010 and September 2012.
Participants will learn new skills, volunteer in their communities and take part in sporting and cultural themed events to put them on a pathway to employment and/or further training or volunteering.
Each graduate will also be supported by a mentor who will work with them to set objectives and create a personal development plan, as well as offer advice and encouragement to ensure they benefit from the full range of opportunities up until Games time.
The scheme has a total cost of about £900,000 over three years and will be shared by the Government Olympic Executive, the Home Office and the Department for Children, Schools and Families.
Martina Milburn, Chief Executive of The Prince’s Trust, said:
“Young people not in education, training or employment are often overlooked. This scheme will bring benefits to young people, aiming to leave a lasting legacy”.
Home Office Minister Alan Campbell said:
“We are determined to prevent young people getting involved in any form of crime or anti-social behaviour. The Positive Futures programme helps around 59,000 young people each year build relationships of trust and respect through mentoring and diversionary activities. I am delighted that some of these young people will have the opportunity to take part in this valuable scheme.”
Schools Minister Diana Johnson said:
“More young people than ever are volunteering and making a positive contribution to their communities.
"Our Youth Community Action scheme will inspire all young people in England to play an active part in their community and help to close the generation gap.
"It will offer increased opportunities for young people to take part in different kinds of activities through their school, college or training provider giving them vital experience so they can give something back and prepare for the world of work.”
top
Notes to Editors
- The Prince’s Trust
Youth charity The Prince's Trust helps change young lives. It gives practical and financial support, developing key workplace skills such as confidence and motivation. It works with 14- to 30-year-olds who have struggled at school, have been in care, are long-term unemployed or have been in trouble with the law.
The Prince of Wales’s charity has helped more than 600,000 young people since 1976 and supports over 100 more each working day. More than three in four young people The Trust helped last year moved into work, education or training. Further information about The Prince’s Trust is available at their website or on 0800 842 842.
- The Youth Community Action pilots have been created by the Department of Children, Schools and Families to trial approaches to engage 14-16 year olds in community activities. These pilots will run across the whole of the boroughs of York, Brighton and Hove and Salford. In Lincolnshire the pilot will be run in South Holland and Boston, and in Kent individual secondary schools from the following areas will take part; Herne Bay, Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells, Sandwich, Sittingbourne, Canterbury, Gravesend and Ashford.
- Positive Futures is a national activity based social inclusion programme for young people aged 10-19 years old. The programme is managed on behalf of the Home Office by Catch22, a national charity that works with young people who find themselves in difficult situations. Catch22 was formed by the merger in 2008 of two charities: Rainer and Crime Concern.
- London 2012 Inspire programme
An Olympic and Paralympic first, the London 2012 Inspire programme officially recognises outstanding non-commercial projects and events inspired by the Games.
The Inspire programme is run by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. It is an opportunity for everyone to be a part of the London 2012 Games – a broad participation programme spanning sport participation, education, sustainability, volunteering, and business opportunities & skills. New opportunities are being created to inspire young people and encourage the whole of the UK to join in.
For more details visit the Be inspired page of the London 2012 website.
Press Enquiries: 020 7211 6052/6277
Out of hours telephone pager no: 07699 751153
Public Enquiries: 020 7211 6200
Back to main
Back to top
