 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
||
London 2012 inspires community spirit with Thames21
19 March 2009
London 2012 CEO Paul Deighton today joined over 50 volunteers in East London to launch ‘London 2012 Changing Places’, a programme aimed at securing lasting environmental and social benefits for the communities surrounding the Olympic Park and other Olympic venues
The programme aims to engage local people to actively support efforts to improve their local environment, helping to educate, train and provide volunteering opportunities for local people. The programme will promote and support projects already being delivered by existing environmental groups and create new projects devised by community groups which identify and organise work in their local area.
The volunteers today gathered at Three Mills Island, adjacent to the Olympic Park to cut back the overgrown vegetation, remove graffiti and remediate the tow path by the canal. The day was organised by London 2012 in association with Thames21, a London-based environmental charity which works with communities to bring the city’s waterways to life.
London 2012 CEO Paul Deighton commented; “The work being done on the Olympic Park is well documented, but it is important to remember that this work goes on against the backdrop of one of the most disadvantaged areas in London. People will rightly be proud of the new park that is being created, but it is just as important that people are proud of their local community. London 2012 will be – and already is – a symbol of national pride and it’s only right that this pride filters to local level. This programme will help communities come together to make the most of their area both in 2012 and beyond.”
Thames21 Chief Executive Debbie Leach commented; “It is fantastic that the 2012 Games are happening right here in East London, and it’s a real opportunity to get people involved in improving the place where they live – particularly the waterways, which are such a defining part of the East London landscape. Thames21 is delighted to be working with London 2012.”
The programme will initially run in the five host boroughs, with an aspiration to roll out across London and around other London 2012 venues outside the capital. More information on existing and forthcoming projects and how to get involved, can be found on www.london2012.com
– Ends –
For further information please contact the London 2012 Press Office on +44 (0)203 2012 100 or visit the website. Find out the latest from London 2012 HQ on our blog.
Notes to editors
The programme has been developed in association with more than 40 delivery partners, details of which can be found on the London 2012 website.
Thames21 is London’s leading waterways charity. By mobilising thousands of volunteers every year, Thames21 coordinate clean-ups of waterside grot-spots, graffiti removal and the creation of new habitats for wildlife. For more information visit www.thames21.org.uk
Volunteers for today’s event were drawn from:
Local Newham School – Eastlea Community School
London 2012 Commercial Partners Lloyds Banking Group and Deloitte LLP
The local Metropolitan Police Safer Neighbourhoods Team
Volunteers from Lee Valley Regional Park Authority’s Conservation Tasks Programme
The programme has been developed around five themes:
- Green & beautiful (enhancing open spaces)
- Clean & safe (addressing graffiti etc)
- Participation (getting local people involved)
- Partners of the Community (utilising the skills and resources of London 2012’s commercial partners)
- Community Resource (providing tools for the community to lead their own improvements)
The volunteers today gathered at Three Mills Island, adjacent to the Olympic Park to cut back the overgrown vegetation, remove graffiti and remediate the tow path by the canal. The day was organised by London 2012 in association with Thames21, a London-based environmental charity which works with communities to bring the city’s waterways to life.
London 2012 CEO Paul Deighton commented; “The work being done on the Olympic Park is well documented, but it is important to remember that this work goes on against the backdrop of one of the most disadvantaged areas in London. People will rightly be proud of the new park that is being created, but it is just as important that people are proud of their local community. London 2012 will be – and already is – a symbol of national pride and it’s only right that this pride filters to local level. This programme will help communities come together to make the most of their area both in 2012 and beyond.”
Thames21 Chief Executive Debbie Leach commented; “It is fantastic that the 2012 Games are happening right here in East London, and it’s a real opportunity to get people involved in improving the place where they live – particularly the waterways, which are such a defining part of the East London landscape. Thames21 is delighted to be working with London 2012.”
The programme will initially run in the five host boroughs, with an aspiration to roll out across London and around other London 2012 venues outside the capital. More information on existing and forthcoming projects and how to get involved, can be found on www.london2012.com
– Ends –
For further information please contact the London 2012 Press Office on +44 (0)203 2012 100 or visit the website. Find out the latest from London 2012 HQ on our blog.
Notes to editors
The programme has been developed in association with more than 40 delivery partners, details of which can be found on the London 2012 website.
Thames21 is London’s leading waterways charity. By mobilising thousands of volunteers every year, Thames21 coordinate clean-ups of waterside grot-spots, graffiti removal and the creation of new habitats for wildlife. For more information visit www.thames21.org.uk
Volunteers for today’s event were drawn from:
Local Newham School – Eastlea Community School
London 2012 Commercial Partners Lloyds Banking Group and Deloitte LLP
The local Metropolitan Police Safer Neighbourhoods Team
Volunteers from Lee Valley Regional Park Authority’s Conservation Tasks Programme
The programme has been developed around five themes:
- Green & beautiful (enhancing open spaces)
- Clean & safe (addressing graffiti etc)
- Participation (getting local people involved)
- Partners of the Community (utilising the skills and resources of London 2012’s commercial partners)
- Community Resource (providing tools for the community to lead their own improvements)
|
|