benefiting from london 2012

On 6 July 2005 Lord Sebastian Coe was quoted as saying the aim of London 2012 was “to reach young people all around the world, to connect them with the inspirational power of the Games, to inspire them to choose sport” Tessa Jowell, Minister for the Olympic said “London is committed to a sporting legacy…London's legacy will reach beyond London”.

We whole heartedly agree with both these sentiments and as the largest sports charity in the UK the Football Foundation is fully committed to seeing more people participating in sport and understanding the wider social benefits of this. One way of doing this is to help groups such as yours understand how you can benefit from the inspirational power of the Games and how the opportunities surrounding London 2012 can assist those you engage and enhance the activity you deliver.

There are a number of questions around the sporting legacy, our we aim is to share what we have learnt and keep this site updated with information that may benefit you.

Who is responsible for what?

A lot of different names and acronyms are used in reference to the Olympics and London 2012. We have put together a 'Who Does What' information sheet which aims to explain the roles of the main players. The London Development Agency have a diagram that also explains this.

what funding can I apply for to deliver a 2012 sports legacy project?

To date the majority of the funding has been filtered through National Governing Bodies (such as the FA), County Sports Partnerships (CSP) and local authorities. 

The following provides links to a few funding pots specifically for sports projects or project ideas which have been inspired by the Games:

Sport England has a variety of funding schemes, one of which changes on a regular basis depending on need.

Grass Roots Grants offer small pots of funding for sports projects that benefit the local community.

The Learning and Skills Council and Sport England have a coaching bursaries scheme to support aspiring and existing coaches gain qualifications at level 1, 2 and 3. Further information is available from the coaching bursaries website or your local CSP. 

The following sites provide free searches for funding pots appropriate for your organisation and project. The latter is for sports projects in London only:

http://www.grantnet.com/

http://www.fundingcentral.org.uk/Default.aspx

http://www.pro-activelondon.org/funding.asp

London specific: Mayor's Playsport London fund

In London, the Mayor's legacy PlaySport London fund, managed by the London Community Sports Board, has already funded a number of programmes: mobile swimming pools, The Boxing Academy in Hackney, Street Athletics, Panathlon Challenge and the Beyond Sport London Legacy Award, which went to Ebony Horse Club in Brixton.

In addition, there are four other opportunities:

1. PlaySport London: Facility Fund - to raise participation levels in sport in London through the funding of sports facilities. The fund will help to provide affordable, good quality local facilities within local communities. The deadline for round one expression of interests was in May and round two will open in October.

2. PlaySport London: Free Sport - a small grants programme which provides funding of up to £1,500 for sports clubs and community groups to deliver free sporting activities to Londoners of all ages and abilities. For more information contact your local ProActive.

3. Funding via the National Skills Academy will provide subsidised training and development opportunities.

4. An intervention programmes, likely to be launched in the Summer, will provide opportunities for organisations to bid for funding that would result in getting more people active and maximise the benefits of sport.

How can London 2012 benefit my organisation?

There are many benefits that any sports organisation can gain from London 2012. By harnessing the inspirational power of the Games you could:

• Engage new members

• Attract more volunteers 

• Take advantage of a greater desire for community cohesion

• Promote the Olympic values of excellence, friendship, and respect

• Invite local sporting heroes to your Club

• Increase awareness of disability sports

• Encourage members to gain new qualifications and sign post them to employment pathways

• Demonstrate the sport is accessible to all

 What opportunities are there to get involved?

There are a number of opportunities that have arisen as a result of winning the opportunity to host the 2012 Olympic Games. The following websites provide more information on how to get involved:

1. Receive the Inspire Mark recognition for a project that is genuinely inspired by the Games.

2. Gain training and access to job opportunities in construction, other Games related fields, or at LOCOG.

3. Volunteer at the Games. Sign up to the 2012 website and received regular updates on opportunities you can get involved in.

4. Get training and volunteering experience leading up to 2012 through the Personal Best programme for those not in employment or education.

5. Benefit from vocational education and skills training for people who want to work and develop their careers in sport and leisure as well as existing employees who want to improve their skills and career opportunities.

6. Compete for contract opportunities linked to the London 2012 Games and other major public and private sector buying organisations.

7. Take part in London 2012 Open Weekend: open up your organisation on the weekend of the 23-25 July 2010 to the public to inspire them to try something new or take something they do already to a new level.

8. There are a number of educational programmes to inspire children and young people for use in schools, colleges and universities, and other learning providers.

9. Provide a meeting room or reception venue for Olympic associations to hold meetings and receptions. Visit London are looking for such venues and if this is something you could offer, register your premises with eventssolutions@visitlondon.com. Premises are also being sought which have views of London that might be good places for broadcasters during the Olympics.

what's happening in my local area?

LOCOG has set a Nations and Regions group to ensure the whole of the UK benefits from the Games. The group is made up of 12 senior representatives. Each Nation and Regions Group member chairs a task force bringing together representatives of interested parties across their nation or region. They each have a vision and plan for making the most of the Games - from helping businesses gear up to win Games-related contracts to encouraging young people to take up more sport and activity.

Many local authorities and / or regional development agencies have recruited a Legacy Co-Ordinator / team to manage and develop programmes inspired by London 2012. Some have written a legacy framework, which is a document that outlines how the area will create a legacy from London 2012. Such organisations have a page on their website dedicated to 2012 legacy. The following are a couple of examples:

Essex 

The NorthWest

Greenwich council

Camden Council

• Find out who sits on your local Nations and Regions group and what their plans are for how your area can benefit from the Games.

• Check with your local council or sports development team to investigate what opportunities there are, whether your project fits under their legacy banner, and whether there is any funding.

• Search the internet to find out what your regional development agency is planning and whether your project fits into their legacy framework.

• Tell these organisations as much as possible about what you are doing and how you are helping them to meet their targets around creating a legacy and increasing sports participation.

how can I learn more?

There are a number of helpful websites, which will keep you updated with the latest opportunities and developments surrounding London 2012. All these websites have e-newsletters you can sign up to, which will keep you informed on everything from events taking place to celebrate the build up to London 2012, to sports involved in the Olympics, to the construction developments at the Olympic Park:

London 2012 - home page of London 2012 with information about the Olympic sports, venues, opportunities to get involved, latest news and plans.

London Development Agency - to keep Londoners informed about the London 2012 legacy, the Olympic park, jobs and business opportunities etc.

Department of Media Culture and Sport - oversees the entire London 2012 project. Their website provides an overview of everything from construction to finances to legacy.

The Big Opportunity - the voice of the Third Sector; building, inspiring and generating Third Sector activity around the 2012 challenge.

Legacy Now - information about the work, initiatives, programmes and events around legacy being led by the LDA and you can provide your thoughts on the Olympic Park legacy plans as they develop

Legacy Trust - for information about a wide range of innovative cultural and sporting activities for all, which celebrate the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and will leave a lasting legacy in communities throughout the United Kingdom.

Mayor of London - for more information about the role of the Mayor in London 2012 and how the City of London is being prepared.