With less than a year to go until the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, excitement is really building up across the capital.  And thanks to an exciting new Cultural Olympiad Grant, residents of the City of Westminster are now being given the chance to show their support and get more involved in the run-up to the Games.

Community groups across Westminster will be given the opportunity to bid for a share of the £25,000 fund being managed by Westminster charity, Vital Regeneration, on behalf of Westminster City Council.  Successful Groups will be able to deliver their own projects, inspired by the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

 Cllr Steve Summers, Westminster Council’s Cabinet Member for Sport and Leisure, said:

“This is a unique opportunity for Westminster’s local communities to get more involved in the 2012 Games.

“Westminster is home to a fantastic range of community groups who all contribute to the vibrancy and diversity of our city.  And with the millions of visitors from around the globe set to visit here in 2012, this is an excellent opportunity to show them what we have to offer.”

Katy Haigh, Vital Regeneration’s Deputy CEO says:

“We are delighted to be involved in the Cultural Olympiad, it is a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity.  There is so much creative potential here in Westminster and this grant will give the community a chance shine and be a part of the Olympics.  Community groups are welcome to contact us with their ideas.  We look forward to working closely with those who are successful in their applications and we can’t wait to see the results this grant will inspire.”

Projects are not restricted to, but could include; music and art exhibitions inspired by Olympic and Paralympic nations, short films based on the Games, celebrations of disabled arts, theatre or creative writing projects, using the history and value of the Games as their theme.

Everyone from across the borough will be able to get involved.  Vital Regeneration has been chosen to manage this project because they already work supportively with a hundreds of people across the City of Westminster; including young and old, people at risk of exclusion, people with disabilities, the homeless, BAME groups and the long term unemployed.  As well as attracting new people to this exciting project, Vital Regeneration will make the most of their reach into the community, ensuring that everyone will be able to participate in this exciting opportunity.

Interested in delivering a project? Grants will be for a maximum of £2,500 per project and all projects which receive funding must be completed by September 11, 2012.  For more information on applying for a grant please contact Katy Haigh at Vital Regeneration, 020 7245 2261 or email kchaigh@vitalregen.org.

If you considering applying for a grant and are looking for an inexpensive venue to hold your activities, Vital Regeneration also manages a range of community facilities in Westminster, including creative workshop spaces and IT suites.  To find out more about this email spacesforhire@vitalregen.org

Launched in 2008, the Cultural Olympiad is a four-year programme of cultural activities made up of both local and national projects.  At a local level, councils across the UK are already using the inspiration of the Games to spread wider social, economic and social benefits to their communities in the run-up to 2012.  Organised by the Royal Parks in partnership with Westminster City Council and Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea last year, FUSE was a one-day free arts festival inspired by London 2012 designed with and for young people.  An estimated 3,000-4,000 people attended throughout the event on Open Weekend.

Three national Open Weekends have been held so far, which have attracted hundreds of thousands of people.  Other national projects will form part of the London 2012 Festival, the Cultural Olympiad’s grand finale from June 21 to September 9 next year.

Ends

Notes to Editors:

Vital Regeneration is a registered charity. 

For more information about Vital Regeneration please visit www.vitalregeneration.org

Photos are available on request

Press enquiries: 

Katy Haigh
Deputy Chief Executive
Vital Regeneration
1 Glasgow House
Lanark Road
Maida Vale Estate
London
W9 1QY

Tel no: 020 7245 2261
Mob:    07825 017 837
Fax: 020 7245 2203