London 2012 gets young people from East London involved in the Games

Last month, Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell and ODA Chief Executive David Higgins praised children and young people from East London for their artwork which they unveiled on hoardings on the Hackney Wick towpath. The ODA and Tower Hamlets-based social enterprise Signs of Life have been working with primary, secondary and special needs schools in the Five Host Boroughs in a creative engagement programme to design the images which are now on display. The ODA held a celebration event for all the children and young people involved in the project from 17 different schools at Hackney Wick Community Centre.

A couple of weeks later, over 450 children from local schools and community groups learnt first hand the important past of their area that is being uncovered in the creation of the London 2012 Olympic Park. The children took part in three weeks of archaeological activities organised by the Olympic Delivery Authority and the Museum of London on the Hackney Marshes as part of the ‘discover’ programme launched earlier this year.

As well as learning more about how the area has transformed over thousands of years the children were able to examine clues to the past found on the site ranging from the Iron Age and Roman activities in the area to discoveries from recent times.

In July, the ODA rolled out a health and safety programme to over 1,000 children from primary schools within the five Host Boroughs ahead of the summer holidays. The education programme used drama workshops to teach children how to stay safe near construction sites but also compliments the school curriculum with an emphasis on personal responsibility and the consequences of actions and behaviours on others. Fourteen primary schools have now taken part in the ODA’s workshops and 10 secondary schools will participate during the next school term.

ODA Chairman John Armitt said: 'Children and young people are integral to the success of the Games in London, and it is important that we create as many opportunities as possible for them to get involved.

'We have had a string of really successful projects that have been set up so that children from all the host boroughs have had the opportunity to get their hands dirty – be it with paint or mud! – and directly contributed towards something practical in and around the Olympic Park.'

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For further information please contact the Olympic Delivery Authority Press Office on +44 (0)203 2012 700.

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