Proposals to establish a Trust to support a diverse range of cultural and sporting initiatives associated with the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games are being sought by the Millennium Commission, the Department for Culture Media and Sport, the Big Lottery Fund and Arts Council England.

The Lottery Distributors and the Government are offering to make £35m available to fund such a Trust. They are seeking proposals from those willing to establish a Trust which will deliver a high profile, coherent programme of activities at a local, regional and national level between 2006 to 2012 which:
- promotes the Olympic and Paralympic ideals celebrating mind, body and spirit;
- fosters innovation and creativity;
- strengthens the creative and technical skills base across the UK;
- encourages a joined-up approach across sport, physical
activity, culture and education;
- offers young people and diverse communities the opportunity to fully participate in the build up and delivery of the Games in 2012; and
- leaves a lasting positive legacy of the Games for future generations.

Richard Caborn MP, Chair of the Millennium Commission and Minister for Sport said, “The Millennium Commission’s last act as a National Lottery Distributor will be to help lay the foundations of a nationwide programme of cultural and sporting endeavour building up to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. I can think of no better use for our remaining Lottery money.”

Tessa Jowell MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, and Olympics Minister said “We want people of all ages, across the length and breadth of the country to get involved in the build up to the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. The Trust will help make this happen and ensure that culture and sport are at the heart of our communities as we all look forward to 2012.”

Sir Clive Booth, Chairman of the Big Lottery Fund, said, ““We are delighted to play a part in this exciting initiative which will enable us to channel our funding into the sporting and cultural landscape of the UK,” says Sir Clive Booth, Chair of the Big Lottery Fund. “We want our funding to have a role in the community regeneration and well-being and cultural activities which 2012 will promote.”

Sir Christopher Frayling, Chairman of Arts Council England, said, “The London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games will be an opportunity for us to show the world our creative assets and abilities but we must start now to ensure the broadest public involvement to make sure that the arts community can bring all its ideas and inspiration to the Games. We wholeheartedly welcome this initiative.”

Sir Keith Mills, Deputy Chairman of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games said “This is a very welcome initiative which will help us promote aspects of the Games, both sporting and cultural. Our aim is to inspire everyone throughout the UK to get involved in the run up to the Games and the Games themselves. The setting up of this Trust will help us achieve this important aim.”

This initiative reflects the aspiration that the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games should be a celebration of both sporting and cultural excellence. Until 1954 the Olympic Games included competitions for culture, e.g. literature; music and art - nowadays, this aspiration is achieved by programmes of cultural events. Looking forward, we hope that in 2012 the UK will welcome the world to London to an excellent Games but it is also an opportunity to showcase our world class cultural assets and that richness of creative skills and cultural diversity which played a part in London winning the bid. However we should not wait until 2012 and communities all across the UK have a chance to take part in cultural and sporting activities in the build up to 2012. The Trust will help contribute to this objective.

We are asking for proposals by the end of May from candidates who would be willing to establish a charitable Trust. At this proposal stage we are interested in the vision and ambition of the candidates. The funders will choose a preferred candidate and it is hoped that this will lead to the Trust being established with £35m in grant in the Autumn. An application pack giving further details can be obtained by sending an email with your contact details to trustfund@millennium.gov.uk.

One of the activities which we envisage that the Trust will support is the UK School Games from 2007-11. It is envisaged that events will be held in Northern Ireland, Wales and the north, south and midlands of England. Cities will be asked to compete to host the Games. The Millennium Commission has funded the first UK School Games in Glasgow this September and today the Commission is also inviting applications from organisations willing to organise the Games in 2007-11. The Commission will provide up to £1m to support this work until such time as the Trust is established and they can receive an application for further funding for the Games. The application pack will be available on 21st April and we expect to make a decision on grant by the end of June. You can register for an application by sending an email with your contact details to ukschoolgames@millennium.gov.uk.

Notes for editors.

The Millennium Commission is a distributor of funds raised by the National Lottery and it has distributed over £2 billion to hundreds of projects and thousands of people around the UK.

DCMS is the department responsible for improving the quality of life for all through cultural and sporting activities. This includes hosting an inspirational, safe and inclusive Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and leaving a sustainable legacy for London and the UK.

Big Lottery Fund is the joint operating name of the New Opportunities Fund and the National Lottery Charities Board (which made grants under the name of the Community Fund). The Big Lottery Fund, launched on 1st June 2004, is distributing half of all National Lottery good cause funding across the UK.

Arts Council England is the national development agency for the arts in England. Between 2005 and 2008, we are investing £1.7 billion of public funds from government and National Lottery.

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) is the body that is responsible for organising and staging the 2012 Games.

Millennium Commission  13th-April-2006
Categories:  News Archive
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