Winchester 2012: Parish Celebrations
This exciting new project aims to engage with rural communities in the build up to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Games will bring sport and physical activity to the forefront of communities and provide a catalyst to engage the nation and promote active and healthy lifestyles.
The celebrations will empower local people to identify a new or existing festival event in their locality to capture people’s imagination and inspire them to celebrate London 2012. It is intended that these events will be run from May to September 2012 and that sport and physical activity and cultural activities will play a prominent role in each of the events.
A Winchester 2012 Parish Ambassador will be invited to become the main contact for each Parish or Ward and will be offered training to help them to develop their celebration event. Ambassadors will also be provided with a “How to” resource pack. The training will enhance their project management, e-marketing and fundraising skills ensuring that events are delivered to a high standard with maximum participation.
It is anticipated that the project will empower local Parishes/Wards to develop their own celebration. The overall project will be overseen by Winchester City Council’s Sport & Physical Activity team and ably supported by a commissioning partner who will be responsible for delivering training and offering event management advice and support to the Ambassadors. For more information about this commission please visit www.winchester.gov.uk/opportunities
Parishes or Wards who wish to work together to deliver their celebration event will be supported. The nominated ‘ambassador’ would be required to co-ordinate the activity across the identified Parishes/Wards.
Training and support will be given to Parish/Ward Ambassadors or organisations wishing to sign up to the project. The training offered will help project contacts establish and develop the celebrations in a successful way. Ambassadors will be provided with a “How to” resource pack. The training will enhance their project management, e-marketing and fundraising skills ensuring that events are delivered to a high standard with maximum participation.
A Winchester 2012 “Events Calendar” will be created and promoted on the Winchester 2012 website www.winchester2012.co.uk and details of all the celebrations will be part of the Winchester 2012 marketing campaign in the lead up to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Cllr Patricia Stallard, Portfolio Holder for Culture, Heritage and Sport comments, “I am delighted to hear that this project will support the more rural parishes and provide the opportunity for their local communities to attend an event and celebrate the Olympics locally rather than having to travel to the centre of Winchester. Local sporting stars can be present at events to inspire people to become more active and the Winchester 2012 Torch will be on offer to Parish Ambassadors at each celebration. We will also award framed certificates of involvement in the Winchester 2012 Parish Celebrations to each participating parish or ward.”
Cllr John Cooper, Portfolio Holder for Communities, Safety and Public Health added, “It is hoped that these celebrations will provide local communities with the tools to continue organising high quality well attended celebrations in future years and that these communities will remain more active as part of the Olympic Legacy.”
For more information contact Amanda Ford, Head of Sport and Physical Activity on 01962 848 274 or aford@winchester.gov.uk
Alternatively visit www.winchester2012.co.uk/events/parishcelebrations