The Games are not just transforming one of the most deprived parts of the UK, but also improving opportunities for Londoners across the capital. There are 395 projects across our six Inspire themes in London.
Inspire projects
SpaceXchange
Project organiser: Sadler’s Wells Trust
Theme: Culture
SpaceXchange is finding underused spaces in the capital and making them available as dance rehearsal studios. Two youth dance groups per London borough over three years will be matched with a local community centre with suitable dance space.
The youth dance group and centre mutually agree on a schedule and in return for their time the youth group will be offered access to free rehearsal space for an agreed number of hours in order to make a piece of dance work for a performance. A performance takes place at the end of each year at Sadler’s Wells Lilian Baylis Studio and a panel of young people will be recruited from the engaged groups to lead on the planning, production and delivery of these performances.
Greenways for the Olympics and London – GOAL
Theme: Sustainability
Project organiser: Sustrans
GOAL’s vision was to improve access to and through green spaces across London and create a network of greenways for walkers and cyclists, so that all Londoners may benefit from the Olympic and Paralympic Games coming to their city.
Greenways are safe, quiet routes through parks, green spaces and lightly trafficked streets. Since the development began in 2005, the London Greenways network has inspired significant take-up among people less likely previously to walk and cycle.
Sports Jam
Project organiser: Access Sport
Theme: Sport
Access Sport works to support 20 community sports clubs in Tower Hamlets and Hackney in order to help grow their youth sections and get more kids playing sport regularly. Support comes in the form of helping to create more coaches and volunteers, subsidised membership, buying new equipment, and help to apply for available grants. Access Sports local club project managers works for two years on bespoke development plans, with the goal of working with up to 50 clubs in East London in the lead up to London 2012.
An East London Sports Jam event helped kick-start the process of aligning key agencies, including local authorities, school sports partnerships, NGBs and so on; to showcase clubs, and give young people the chance to try out 10-12 different sports.
Winning Words
Project organiser: Winning Arts Foundation
Theme: Culture
Winning Words will use poetry to inspire athletes and spectators at the London 2012 Games. Among the specially commissioned poems that will be displayed at London 2012 venues, a new work has been commissioned from Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy to be inscribed in the structure at Eton Manor, which will host Wheelchair Tennis during the Paralympic Games and temporary training pools during the Olympic Games. Other poets to be commissioned through Winning Words include Lemn Sissay, Jo Shapcott, Caroline Bird and John Burnside.
