Through its City Bridge Trust the City Corporation has funded a
number of projects relating to the 2012 Games.
The thinking behind these awards is not only that the legacy of
the Games starts now but that it should be more than what is
physically left behind after the event has passed. The grants
listed here seek to invest in local communities, enhance the skills
base in the workforce, encourage greater well being and increase
levels of volunteering and civic service – benefits reaching far
beyond those of the Games themselves:
London Civic Forum (LCF)
Award: £140,000 over three years (began in 2006)
This award funds a post within LCF which has communicated to the
voluntary sector the process by which contracts for work on the
Games are processed and delivered, thus ensuring full
involvement of the sector in the planning of London 2012.
Voluntary and community groups have an enormous amount to offer the
Games, but only if there is a representative seat at the right
tables and a strong flow of information in both directions between
the authorities and the community. This post is ideally positioned
to fulfil this remit.
An associated piece of work which also forms part of this
project is a comparative study of voluntary and community
involvement at a range of other major sporting and cultural
events. The study will highlight best practice and past
mistakes and will illustrate how best these groups can contribute
to legacy.
Leonard Cheshire Disability (LCD)
Award: £15,000
This award will be used to encourage young disabled Londoners to
participate in sport, ahead of the 2012 Paralympic Games.
Working both here and at this year’s Games in Beijing, the
project sees LCD’s own film crew and partner the Media Trust
creating a promotional film with a small group of disabled
youngsters. The film will feature interviews with paralympians,
coaches and volunteers about what inspired and drove them to
succeed, what barriers they have had to overcome and the effect the
experience has had on their own personal development.
Once completed, it will be distributed widely, encouraging young
disabled people to get involved in sport and opening their eyes to
the potential and possibilities.
St John Ambulance (SJA)
Award: £150,000 over three years
This award will be used to create a legacy of volunteering in
four of the host boroughs for London 2012 by developing a training
programme for young residents. The programme will help support
SJA’s commitments for the Games.
With over 27,000 members under the age of 25 and a youth
development programme underpinning its volunteering, SJA is one of
the leading youth development organisations in the country.
The legacy of this award can be realised when examining SJA’s track
record – an impressive two out of three of its cadets transfer into
adult service at the age of 18, mostly into student units.
Historically, SJA has had low membership levels in inner London,
despite recruitment drives. The opportunity to participate in
providing cover for the Olympics will be a key recruitment
incentive for youth and it is hoped that around 25 young people per
borough will be trained.
To find out more about the City Bridge Trust visit
their website.