Coventry and Warwickshire 2012 Partnership

Get Involved in London 2012

Coventry & Warwickshire is proud to support London 2012 and on 27 July 2012, London and the UK will welcome the world and begin staging the two greatest sporting spectaculars on earth; the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Our sub-regional 2012 Partnership has been engaging in London 2012 since July 2005. Today we are now supporting London 2012 across three levels:

Locally - through our major local projects

Regionally - via the West Midlands Cultural Programme www.wmfor2012.com

Nationally - through numerous National London 2012 initiatives

Our sub-region has already benefited from London 2012 and over the next two years we aim to contribute to making the 2012 Games a huge success outside of London, as well as raising the image and profile of our sub-region to a national and international audience on an unprecedented scale.

There are numerous tangible opportunities for businesses, local authorities, sports clubs, schools, individuals and communities to get involved, join in and be part. A summary of our major successes to date are:

• Coventry was the first English City to host the UK School Games in 2007. A legacy of the 2005 International Children’s Games, this multi-sport event included over 1,300 children across 8 sports and generated over £2m for the local economy.

• Coventry has been awarded a London 2012 Live Site which will join the National network of 18 Live Site screens around the UK, showing news, events and live screenings of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

• Coventry was the West Midlands winner with a local project called “Godiva Awakes” which is commissioned through Artists Taking the Lead, an exciting project forming part of London 2012’s Cultural Olympiad and funded by Arts Council England.  Imagineer Productions will create a ten metre high Lady Godiva who will awake from her sleeping changer in July 2012 to a spectacular performance.  Powered by 50 cyclists, Godiva will then journey to London to take part in all the celebrations.

• Coventry and Warwickshire has 10 venues in the official London 2012 Pre-games Training Camp guide and has hosted visits from five National Olympic Committees creating ongoing dialogue.

• Coventry and Warwickshire has over 2,000 registrations from companies on the CompeteFor system, and Coventry businesses have won the most contracts of any sub-region in the West Midlands

• A Coventry project, Festival of Sport – designed to provide school children with an Olympic and Paralympic experience in a festival environment, encompassing the values of the Olympics has been awarded the London 2012 Inspire Mark and recognised by LOCOG Chief Executive Paul Deighton, who said: “This Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership really gets it. They absolutely understand that it’s the power of the Games to inspire young people in particular and to transform their lives".

• Over 100 Coventry and Warwickshire Olympians and Paralympians have been uncovered dating back to 1900 creating an Olympic and Paralympic Hall of Fame, the first archive of its kind.

• Over 150 Coventry and Warwickshire schools and colleges have signed up to the London 2012 ‘Get Set’ education programme - with over 1000 schools signed up in the West Midlands we are already reaching some 40% of pupils in the region; 

• Over 4,000 people took part in the London 2012 handover celebrations from Beijing to London in 2008, through a major event in University Square.

• Last year Coventry and Warwickshire organisations registered 16 events as part of the London 2012 Open Weekend, out of 40 events region wide.

For further information about how you can get involved in local, regional and national London 2012 activities, please use the navigation menu on the right of this page.

Legends of the Games

Celebrating local, national and international Olympians and Paralympians, and enabling them to inspire the next generation of young sportsmen and women from Coventry and Warwickshire...

• Creating a ‘Hall of Fame’ of Olympians and Paralympians with links to Coventry and Warwickshire - promoting their achievements and telling their stories.

• Staging Legends Camps to inspire young talented athletes from the region and their coaches – Coventry & Warwickshire Legends in 2009, British Legends in 2010 and International Legends in 2011.

• Capturing the knowledge and experience of the Legends, by mentoring aspiring talented athletes, coaches and teachers, and by visiting schools / clubs to promote sport opportunities in the region.
   

The official Emblems of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Ltd are © 2007

Carnivals and Festivals

Celebrating the Olympic and Paralympic spirit in the carnivals and festivals across the region every year up to and including 2012...

• Adopting an Olympic theme for each of the region’s carnivals and festivals, focusing on the culture of the Olympic movement and its multi-national nature.

• Promoting the values of Olympism through local festivals activity such as dance, music and art encouraging participation in sport and physical activity.

• Highlighting the new sporting culture in Coventry and Warwickshire by linking Team Coventry and Warwickshire and local sports clubs to offer ‘come and try’ sessions at the region’s carnivals and festivals.

The official emblems of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Ltd are © 2007
 

Festival of Sport

The London 2012 Games provide a once in a lifetime opportunity to inspire a generation to experience new sports or get involved in physical activity and active recreation.

A key promise by the London Organising Committee of the 2012 Games (LOCOG) is to use the2012 Games as a catalyst to increase participation in sport and physical activity to promote a healthier lifestyle nation-wide.

To service this commitment our Festival of Sport project is about providing school children the opportunity to experience a variety of different Olympic and Paralympic sports whilst inspiring them about the London 2012 Games and learning about the values and ethos of the Olympic movement.

We aim for the Festival of Sport to inspire the children who participate in the programme to be the best they can be and to participate in being as physically active as possible.

The project is structured around three week long festivals each focusing on different sports. Additionally, the project supports existing school sports partnership events through adopting Olympic and Paralympic themes in the build up to 2012.

Through linking in with the Get Set Education programme, schools who participate in the programme are encouraged to use the resources of Get Set and also complete background work pre and post festivals in activities across the curriculum.

Watch the Festival of Sport video here.

This project is funded as part of the NHS Coventry’s Physical Activity and Sports Services in Our Neighbourhoods (PASSION) network and is delivered in partnership with the Coventry East School Sports partnership.

The official emblems of the London Organising Commitee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games LTD are © 2007

Team Coventry and Warwickshire

Inspiring all young people in Coventry and Warwickshire to be the best they can at sport, and identifying and supporting those with the talent to go all the way to the GB team...

• Establishing academies in Olympic sports with clubs, sports bodies, education and our partner nation(s) – testing and identifying young people with the talent and characteristics to join those academies.

• Supporting young sportsmen and women in Coventry and Warwickshire and their coaches with a package including bursaries, free facility access, Legend mentoring, physiotherapy and sports science.

• Recognising and promoting the achievements of talented young athletes, through building coverage in local media and on the Coventry and Warwickshire 2012 website. 

To view the current young talented athletes which are supported through our CAP Bursary programme please visit: www.cswsport.org.uk

Peace and Reconciliation

Making Coventry Cathedral the focus of London 2012 activity in peace and reconciliation, dovetailing with the Cathedral’s Golden Jubilee in the same year...

• Linking the Cathedral’s Golden Jubilee celebrations with London 2012’s activity to promote peace and reconciliation – becoming the focus for national education programmes in this area.

• Ensuring that the London 2012 Torch Relay visits the Cathedral – recognising the parallels between the Cathedral’s peace and reconciliation mission and the similar objective of the Olympic Movement.

• Staging an annual ‘Peace Cup’ in football – and maybe other Olympic sports – bringing together teams from divided countries / regions, and recognising the power of sport to bridge division and conflict.
   

Stratford to Stratford

Building links between Stratford-on-Avon District (with the rest of the region) and Stratford, East London: the site of the Olympic Park and the global focus for London 2012...

• ShariNg the culture of Shakespeare and the work of the Royal Shakespeare Company with young people in East London, and in return promoting the diversity and vibrancy of London life to the young people of our region. 

• Promoting Stratford-upon-Avon, and the other attractions of the region, through visits from East London schools, and in return offering trips to the Olympic Park to Coventry and Warwickshire schools.

• Linking the sports clubs, schools, businesses, cultural organisations in both areas, so that both can learn from each other, offer exchanges, competitions, partnerships and greater mutual understanding.
   

Africa Inspires

Supporting London 2012’s promise to inspire the youth of the world through the staging of the Olympic and Paralympic Games...

• Building a relationship with an African nation(s) that develops identified sporting outcomes from participation to performance, with the potential for Coventry & Warwickshire hosting representative teams as a training base up to and beyond 2012.

• Forging lasting links with that nation(s) based on the benefits and opportunities presented by cultural, educational and social exchange and the development of a mutual commitment to global peace and reconciliation.

• Using the spirit of the Olympians to explore the potential and power of global partnership in building, regenerating and contributing to the economic well being of local communities in each and all of the respective partner cities.
   

West Midlands for 2012

As part of the West Midlands Region, Coventry and Warwickshire is proud to support regional London 2012 activity.

Led and co-ordinated by Advantage West Midlands (AWM), our sub-region is represented to London 2012 at regional level via the WM 2012 Advisory and Leadership Groups, which report direct to London 2012 through the Nations and Regions structure.

For all information on what the West Midlands is doing to engage in London 2012 please visit www.wmfor2012.com

People Dancing

This exciting programme provides the opportunity to bring West Midlands communities together, from all backgrounds and neighbourhoods, to celebrate the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games by getting local people moving.

The challenge for this programme is to encourage more people to take up dance and dance related activity so that it becomes part of their lives, resulting in them feeling fit and well in both mind and body and having fun.

People Dancing is aimed at everybody of all ages, backgrounds, skills and abilities. Whether you’re a professional dance organisation, local dance school, sports group combining sport and dance, or a dancer, choreographer, dance teacher or student working in partnership with others, you can get involved … and get more people dancing!    

The remaining deadlines for submitting bids are:

- 3 September 2010

- 4 February and 8 July 2011

For more information visit: www.wmfor2012.com

Organisations and thier projects that have been successful in apply for People Dancing funding in Coventry and Warwickshire are as follows:

2012 Business Workshops

Business Awareness Workshops

The forthcoming 2012 Games have already created a huge range of opportunities for West Midlands businesses to supply goods and services.

To ensure you don’t miss out, Business Link West Midlands is hosting a series of 3-hour workshops, delivered through The West Midlands Chamber of Commerce and funded by Advantage West Midlands, to provide information and advice on how you can access and maximise these opportunities to grow your business.

All workshops start at 8:45am. The next Business Awareness Workshops in Coventry and Warwickshire are:

• 15 September 2010 at the University of Warwick Students’ Union
• 2 March 2011 – (venue to be announced)

To reserve your FREE place, simply call 0247 665 4108 or email chriss@cw-chamber.co.uk

Procurement Training Workshops

For more in-depth information and guidance on tendering for work in the run up to the 2012 Games, why not attend one of our Procurement Training Workshops?

There are many contract and tendering opportunities for businesses to benefit from relating to the 2012 Games and tendering opportunities with other public sector organisations.

The 2012 Procurement Training Workshops, delivered by BIP Solutions, are designed to provide you with specialised training, to help you understand the detailed procurement processes used by London 2012 and public sector organisations.

All workshops are FREE and run between 8:45am and 12:15pm and are open to all organisations in the West Midlands. The next Procurement Training Workshop in Coventry and Warwickshire is:

 -          3  November 2010

To reserve your place, simply call 0845 270 7095 or visit www.procurementworkshops.co.uk

Community Games

Community Games will see people of all ages and abilities across the West Midlands staging their own sporting and cultural events as part of the region’s celebrations of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Part of the West Midlands’ Cultural Programme for 2012, Community Games will officially launch across the region in early 2010.

As well as a practical toolkit, there will be training for Games leaders and support to help facilitate the staging of these events in the run up to 2012 and we will have developed a range of resources to help communities stage their events, inspired by the ideals of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Community Games is inspired by the annual Wenlock Olympian Games in Shropshire and funded by Legacy Trust UK.

Download the Community Games Toolkit HERE

Further information will be available here soon. In the meantime, please visit www.wmfor2012.com or contact culturalolympiadwm@artscouncil.org.uk  

 

London 2012 Inspire Programme

The London 2012 Inspire Mark is an accreditation awarded to projects that have embraced the inspiration of London 2012 and the values of the Olympic movement. Assessed by London 2012 and the International Olympic Committee, the Inspire Mark recognises the very best projects that have no commercial support and inspire change.

If you are a non-commercial organisation that has inspirational ideas that encourage participation and would like to apply for the Inspire Mark, then please contact:

Marianne Bell
WM Inspire Mark Programmer, 2012 Games
0121 503 3391
mariannebell@advantagewm.co.uk

Coventry and Warwickshire Inspire Mark Projects:
We already have projects across Coventry and Warwickshire that have been awarded the London 2012 Inspire Mark and from now until the 2012 Games, we aim to have many more. Our current London 2012 Inspire Mark accredited projects are:

Legends of the Games:
Celebrating the achievements of Coventry and Warwickshire's Olympic and Paralympic athletes who have competed at the Games through our Hall of Fame. Legends are involved in various events to inspire individuals and communities to be the best that they can be. For more information, visit the Get Involved section.

Boys Dancing:
Warwick Arts Centre is leading this project that aims to provide over 1,000 youngsters from across the region to have participated in dance by the end of the first 12 months with a view to expanding the scheme across the wider West Midlands region by 2012. For more information visit: www.wmfor2012.com  

Knickers and Vests:
Triangle Theatre's Knickers & Vests project will investigate notions of “discipline” in sport and theatre, inspired by memories of Physical Education between 1948 and the late 1980s. For more information visit: www.triangletheatre.co.uk

Festival of Sport:
A three year scheme which aims to give children across Coventry the opportunity to experience a variety of Olympic and Paralympic sports and to use London 2012 as a catalyst to increase participation in sport and physical activity to promote a healthier lifestyles. For more information visit the Get Involved section.

Extraordinary Cycles:
Extraordinary Cycles is a ground-breaking partnership project between Hybrid Arts and Coventry Transport Museum which celebrates the marriage of sport and art through exploring and developing the art form of dancing on bikes. For more information visit: www.hybridarts.co.uk

Germination:
Germination marks the launch of Imagination Our Nation which is a local, regional and international project that explores contemporary British cultural over five years leading up to 2012 through music, dance, carnival, street arts, circus, theatre and digital arts and has young people from the UK at the heart of it! For more information vist: www.imagineerproductions.co.uk

Museum on the Move:
A mobile museum with an exhibition focusing on Warwickshire's cultural and sporting heroes past, present and future to link in with the Cultural Olympiad and the regions connections to the origins of the modern Olympics. For more information visit: www.herefordshire.gov.uk


The official Emblems of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Ltd are © 2007

Compete For 2012 Business Contracts

Compete For is the official London 2012 procurement website, set up to enable businesses to apply and bid for 2012 related contracts. London 2012 presents a great opportunity for UK PLC to construct and supply the games with all their procurement needs.

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) expect to spend over £8 billion, with an estimated 75,000 procurement contracts available covering direct contractors and their supply chains.

In addition to this, there are many more procurement opportunities as a result of London hosting the 2012 Games and the huge regeneration of the Lower Lea Valley and with the planned East London transport and infrastructure needs.

For Business Support in our region and to find out more about 2012 Business Opportunities in Coventry and Warwickshire through the Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, Business Link and Advantage West Midlands please visit: www.businesslink.gov.uk

If you are interested in the many thousands of business contracts that are available now as a result of the London 2012 Games then please visit and register with the Official Compete4 Service at: www.competefor.com

Get Set Education Programme

What is it?

Get Set is the official London 2012 education programme which hosts and online library of a whole range of flexible, interactive learning resources designed to get you thinking about the Olympic and Paralympic values and the London 2012 Games – with games, fact sheets, films, news articles and much more.

Who is it for?

Schools, colleges and local authority education providers in the UK. It is not available for HE (universities).

What are the aims of Get Set?

- Enhance young people’s learning right across the curriculum – through sport, culture and education

- Support and drive existing educational priorities and agendas

- To involve as many children and young people as possible in the excitement of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

- To take the magic and inspiration of the London 2012 Games out to classrooms, playgrounds and into the lives of young people across the UK.

- To support children and young people across the UK in the development of their leadership, personal, thinking and life skills.

What happens when I register?

Once you have registered your institution, you have access to all the resources on the site and can begin integrating this into the education plan within your school or college. When your school is involved begins to carry out Olympic related activity, you can blog about online gain access to the Get Set network.

What is the Get Set network?

The Get Set network is will be made up of learning providers who are demonstrably living one or more of the Olympic and Paralympic values and are committed to integrating these values into their whole school development planning and ethos.

What are the benefits of Get Set?

Members of the Get Set network get:

- The right to use the brand new London 2012 education logo

- A plaque and certificate of your achievement

- Access to exclusive London 2012 competitions, prizes and opportunities

Who do we contact to register?

Registration to Get Set takes 2 minutes and can completed online by clicking here

Download the Get Set Fact File from our downloads page

London 2012 Volunteering

Do you want to be a London 2012 Games Maker?

London 2012 is on the search for 70,000 volunteer Games Makers to ensure the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games run smoothly and successfully. Volunteers will carry out a range of essential tasks, from welcoming spectators, language services and medical care.

What are the minimum criteria to volunteer?

• Over 18 years of age
• Be able to commit to volunteer a minimum of ten days at either, or both, Games
• Be able to attend a minimum of three training sessions
• Be eligible to volunteer in the UK
• Agree to, and pass, security background checks.

What are the volunteering roles at the Games?

There will be two types of volunteer at the 2012 Games based on skills required for the job.

Specialist volunteers - will have specific existing skills or qualifications that are needed for them to complete the role – for example, sport or medical training.

Generalist volunteers - will not need any special skills or qualifications and will receive full training. They might be given roles in areas such as event services, uniform distribution and Village operations

What happens when I register?

The official Games Makers volunteering application process has now opened for Specialist volunteers. The application process for General volunteers will open on the 15 September 2010.

Once you have submitted your completed application form it will be processed and you will be informed as to whether or not your have been selected for an interview. After your interview you will be told if you have been successful or not.

What is provided for London 2012 Volunteers?

Meals within volunteering hours will be provided for by London 2012. Volunteers will also be provided with uniforms and other memorabilia.

What is not provided to London 2012 Volunteers?

Unfortunately, no accommodation or transportation costs can be provided by London 2012. This must be covered at the expense of the volunteer.

Volunteering in Coventry and Warwickshire:
To find out more about volunteering in our sub-region please visit the following sites:

V involved volunteering 16 - 25 year olds:
http://v.wayc.org.uk (in Warwickshire and Solihull)
www.vacoventry.org.uk (in Coventry)

Do it

The UK's leading volunteering website, will enable all individuals inspired by London 2012 to quickly and easily access fulfilling, relevant and local Games inspired volunteering opportunities.

www.do-it.org.uk

Volunteering in Solihull:
www.solihull-sustain.org.uk

For links to CSW Sport Volunteering and sub-regional sport strategy info:
www.cswsport.org.uk

25th Hour:

www.the25thhour.org

Cultural Olympiad

What is it?

The Cultural Olympiad is a four year cultural celebration which is a series of events to showcase the UK's arts and culture to the rest of the world. It is the largest cultural celebration in the history of the modern Olympic and Paralympic Games, designed to give everyone in the UK a chance to be part of London 2012.

When is it?

The four-year London 2012 Cultural Olympiad began in September 2008, at the end of the Beijing 2008 Games and will continue until the closing ceremony of the 2012 Paralympic Games on 9 September 2012.

What are the Values and themes of the Cultural Olympiad?

All Cultural Olympiad projects will display the first three core values and adopt at least three themes. This ensures the goals for the Cultural Olympiad are met and creates purpose, character and identity for the London 2012 culture programme.

Values:

The Cultural Olympiad is for everyone. We are:

- Celebrating London and the UK and inviting the world to share the event with us.

- Inspiring and involving young people to unlock their creativity.

- Using cultural and sports participation, audience development, urban regeneration, tourism, international links and other key strands of the Cultural Olympiad to build a meaningful legacy.

Themes:

Bring culture and sport together. Or, as Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Movement, said: ‘The Olympics is the wedding of sport and art’.

- Encourage audience participation.

- Make public spaces exciting through street theatre, public art, circus skills and live big screen sites.

- Raise environmental sustainability, health and well-being issues through culture and sport.

- Honour and share the values of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

- Create unique collaborations and innovations between communities and cultural sectors.

- Support the learning, skills and personal development of young people through links to our education programme.

What are the major Cultural Olympiad projects?

The projects in the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad featured in the bid for the Games. They are the backbone of our cultural activities, encompassing everything from art to music to theatre:

Unlimited: Celebrating disability art and culture

Stories of the World: Allowing people of all backgrounds to explore the meaning of objects in new ways

Artists Taking the Lead: Encouraging artists to use the nation as a canvas to showcase the UK's creativity

Sounds: Showcasing the sound of the nation in 2012

World Shakespeare Festival: Celebrating Shakespeare through a series of international collaborations

Film nation: Inspiring new talent to participate in film

Discovering Places: Inspiring the UK to discover their local environment

Somewhereto: Empowering young people to use space on their own terms

Outdoor arts: A major outdoor arts project for 2012

How can I be part of the Cultural Olympiad?

To become involved in the Cultural Olympiad you must either participate in one of the London 2012 major projects or have your own cultural project granted the London 2012 Inspire Mark. Cultural activity outside of these two requirements will not feature as part of the official London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

Who do I contact to be part of the Cultural Olympiad?

If you have got a great idea to be part of the Cultural Olympiad and think it reflects the values and vision of the Cultural Olympiad, then contact the West Midlands Creative Programmer, Paul Kaynes. To e-mail Paul Kaynes click here

Download the Cultural Olympiad Fact File from our downloads page

London 2012 Open Weekend

What is it?

Open Weekend is an annual UK-wide celebration counting down to the Olympic and Paralympic Games. It includes sporting, cultural and artistic events that bring together communities all with the same intention of celebrating the forthcoming London 2012 Games. With little over 2 years to go until the Games, Open Weekend is your way to join in and build momentum to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

This year’s theme for event organisers is about creating a challenge for their audience - to try something new or take an existing skill to a new level.

When is it?

The dates for 2010 and 2011 have been confirmed as:

23 – 25 July 2010

22 – 24 July 2011

Who is it for?

The London 2012 Open Weekend is open to all non-commercial not for profit organisation from culture, sport, community and learning (such as a local council, a charity, theatre group or sports club).  The Weekend is your chance to be part of London 2012 and join in the countdown celebrations to the Games.

What are the requirements?

Events must:

• Be organised by a non-commercial, not for profit organisation (such as a local council, a charity, theatre group or sports club)
• Take place between 23-25 July 2010 or 22 – 24 July 2011
• Set a challenge that the public participate in
• Be open to everyone
• Be  non-commercial and not profit-generating 
• Not be fund-raising initiatives
• Not be promoted in connection with any businesses, for example through selling sponsorship or other commercial rights to associate with it.

Why should I be part of Open Weekend?

The London 2012 Open Weekend is your opportunity to:

• Be part of an annual and UK-wide celebration counting down to the Games
• Reach new audiences
• Find new ways to work with sport, culture and learning
• Offer your local audiences a chance to celebrate with you
• Inspire young people

What help is available from London 2012 in staging an event?

London 2012 have developed an Open Weekend marketing toolkit which will help you promote your event.  You will be given access once your Open Weekend event has been approved. Materials within our Open Weekend marketing toolkit will include the London 2012 emblems. Unfortunately it is not possible for LOCOG to fund events.

How do I register an event for Open Weekend?

Registrations for 2010 Open weekend close on 16 July 2010.

Personal Best 2012 Programme

The Personal Best programme, backed by a government initiative called 2012 Games Inspirations, is offering to train up to 400 people in the West Midlands who are out of work or socially disadvantaged in order to raise their skills and improve their employability.

After gaining new skills, participants will also have a chance to apply to become one of the UK’s 70,000 Games Time London 2012 Volunteers.

Funded by the region’s European Social Fund programme and backed by a partnership including the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) West Midlands, West Midlands Leaders Board, SkillsActive, Advantage West Midlands and Jobcentre Plus, the Personal Best programme primarily targets adults who are out of work and have significant barriers to employment due to a lack of skills.

Participants will be offered an opportunity to train for a Level 1 qualification in event volunteering and, following a successful application, will have a guaranteed interview with the London Organising Committee for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), to act as a Games Time Volunteer.

Those completing the course will also have the opportunity to volunteer at local sporting, cultural and community events. The tailor-made course includes a variety of modules ranging from customer service to public safety awareness and understanding what makes an effective volunteer, combined with 30 hours of practical volunteer experience.

In addition, trainees will receive ongoing support and guidance from a team of Personal Best advisers, to improve their chances of getting a job and enhance their interview technique.

The Personal Best programme was launched in the West Midlands on 29 September at Lilleshall National Sports Centre. Further information is available at: www.skillsactive.com/personalbest
 

Team Green Britain

Team Green Britain is an environmental campaign led by London 2012 Sponsor EDF Energy which aims to lead Britain in the fight against climate change, supporting London’s promise to be the Greenest Games ever.

The emphasis is for everyone to do something to make our lives a little greener as the combination of everyone’s efforts will have a much greater impact on the environment in the future.

By joining in you can receive practical support, information and advice about energy saving tactics within your home, travelling tips to make your journeys more economical and techniques to reduce waste and increase recycling.

To find out more information about becoming more environmentally friendly and joining Team Green Britain visit: www.teamgreenbritain.org
 

Children's Promise

To raise awareness of London 2012’s bid, prior to London winning the right to host the 2012 Games, a promise was made to provide every child born in the UK on 20 December (20/12) 2004, the opportunity to play a role in a ceremony or event at the 2012 Games.

Having since won the bid to host the 2012 Games, London 2012 kept their promise and now over 700 babies nationally that were born on 20/12/2004 are eligible for this once in a life time opportunity.

Currently we know of 27 children who are legible for this scheme who are from our sub-region and we are looking to celebrate and build contact with them to profile their child and the role they will be given for the London 2012 Games, in being part of the largest sporting event in the World.

During London’s Olympiad, the birthdays of these children will be marked in a different ways building up to their role in 2012.

If your child was born on the 20/12/2004 and would like to be involved please contact the Coventry and Warwickshire 2012 Partnership on 02476 707431 or visit: www.london2012.com