Essex Inspire Projects 2012

Active Plus Games

The Active Plus Games offers fitness incentives for the over 50s in Castle Point, Rochford and Southend-on-Sea. The scheme provides the over fifties with a voucher, allowing them to participate in activities including Chairfit classes, Nordic Walking and access to local gym facilities at free or subsidised rates.  Read more>>

Anthem

Culmination of Metal’s large scale community choir project with music by Tolga Kashif (Musical direction for BBC Children in Need’s ‘Perfect Day’) which will welcome the Olympic Torch when it visits Southend on Friday 6 July 2012 in partnership with Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, Arts Council England, and Southend Education Trust. Performance on Southend Sea Front. Read more>>

Basildon Challenge

Throughout the academic year 2012, 25 Schools in the Basildon area that taking part in this exciting project, especially designed for the participating schools to inspire the children of Basildon. In September 2011, pupils received a "passport". Each time they participate in one of the "challenges", they receive a stamp and hopefully fill it by July 2012! More details about each challenge will be given as they arise. To meet each challenge means another stamp on your child's passport. Read more>>
 

Behind the Scenes of Team Essex Ambassadors

Short films of ‘Behind the scenes footage fromTeam Essex Ambassadors’ (Essex Athletes with recognised potential to compete in the London 2012 Games). Footage gathered from athlete, coaches, and support staff will be edited with short films being produced as the final film.  All films produced will be entered into the Film Nation competition and shown at events organised by Essex County Council, including Sparks will Fly and the athlete's personal blogs. The project will also fall in line with‘Journey to Podium’. Schools or artists will contact  the athletes, coaches and other professional/personal. The Essex Carrying the Flame team will support the project from start to completion.  Read more>>

Cycle and Seek

Cycle and Seek by Foot Prints Theatre Company is a Colchester based family cycling project involving , performance, poetry, arts and crafts and bike skills.  Cycle Colchester were involved in an arts and cycling workshop in October 2010. Alongside each of the Cycle and Seek events, organisers ran 'Arts' workshops in willowweaving, creative writing and dance in local schools. The project also inspired a Family treasure trail of dance, drama and bikeability along a new cycle path created by Cycle Colchester.  The children's sculptures and poetry were displayed along the route. Mini Cycle and Seek returns for 2012 with cycling based performances at Tour Series Colchester and the Young Children's Festival Read more>>

Cycling your way to the Games

Local authorities in Essex are teaming up with Essex County Council to deliver a series of led cycle rides for people of all abilities to take part in. There will be a choice of five distances to take part in from 20 minutes to two hours.  Rides will happen throughout the summer and autumn of 2012. The London 2012 Games and in particular the Olympic Mountain bike event happening in the county will be the catalyst to inspire people to get on their bikes, improve their fitness, make friends and even challenge their competitive spirit. To find out more contact Matt Ewings>>

Dare to Dream

Dare to Dream is year-long programme of innovative creative schools projects offering activities from Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for school staff and artists through to a number of large scale participatory events. Over twelve months the programme will work with around 45 artists, deliver up to 500 sessions of education, training or cultural participation that will reach 10,000 children and young people in Southend and across the Thames Gateway. Key creative partners include the Royal Opera House, Metal, Focal Point Gallery and Zinc Arts, Theatre Is and Nimble Fish, the project will create large scale participatory experiences for young people. Read more>>

Essex Ambassadors

Essex will receive visitors from the UK and all over the world during the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. Essex County Council are in the process of recruiting volunteers to be the face of Essex and give a warm welcome to everyone visiting our county. There will be over 400 volunteers recruited across Essex through the Essex Ambassadors’ programme. Read more>>

Essex Art Relay

Schools across Essex have completed 40 metre art relay batons that will be unveiled in 2012 to co-inside with London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Each school participating has chosen an Olympic or Paralympic Value  to base their art work on.  The project includes the International Art Baton where five Schools across Essex have been linked with five schools in Venezuela.  Read more>>

Essex Carrying the Flame Education programme

Essex Carrying the Flame has been awarded the London 2012 Inspire Mark for the cross curricular phase of the project that's using the inspiration of London 2012 to encourage learning in all areas of the National Curriculum. There are many projects within the programme that have also been awarded individual Inspire Marks including Essex Art Baton Relay,Behind the Scenes of Team Essex Ambassadors and the Mini Games (inspire Mark awarded to Chelmsford Borough Council who as founders of Chelmsford Mini Games which Essex Mini Games was inspired by). Read more>>

Essex Reading Relay

One local project to receive the coveted Inspire Mark is the ‘Essex Reading Relay’. Led by EssexLibraries in partnership with local schools across the East of England, the Reading Relay hopes to Inspire children to read, discuss, share and become hooked on books. Inspired by the Olympic and Paralympic Values of respect, excellence and friendship, the project will help promote both the values and the importance of children’s reading. The project is bringing a broad network of libraries and schools together in preparation for launching the scheme within schools in September. Read more>>

Hadleigh to Stratford Legacy Walk

The Hadleigh to Stratford Legacy Group Inaugural Walk project will take place from 20 May 2012 to 26 May 2012 in the form of a Baton Walk over the 7 days starting at Leigh-on Sea station and finishing at Stratford. The Hadleigh to Stratford Legacy walk aims to link the two Olympic Venues, the Hadleigh Mountain bike centre with Lee Valley White Water Canoe Centre to enable members of the public to go on foot through some of the most beautiful and rural parts of Essex before walking on up the green corridor that is the Lea Valley and on to Stratford and the main Olympic Stadium. A booklet will be available for participants, providing details of the route on a map. The walk aims to be part of a long lasting legacy of from the London in 2012 Olympic Games, inspirng peope to get people out walking and enjoying themselves. The Hadleigh to Stratford Legacy Walks booklet will be available from www.essexarearamblers.co.uk

Intervillage Games

Intervillage Games is Inspired by London 2012, to use inter-village sporting and cultural events to improve friendship, co-operation and opportunity, particularly for the young, between residents of the local neighbouring villages. In view of the national excitement that will surround the 2012 London Games, local villages wil hold an ‘Inter-Village Games’, thereby strengthening their sense of community and having a lot of fun together.” The Games will happen around The Village Halls and sports fields of Berners Roding, Blackmore, Chignals, Fyfield, Easters, Highwood, Matching Green, Moreton, Roxwell and Willingale, School sports facilities at Blackmore, Fyfield, Highwood, Moreton and Roxwell Shooting Ground, Little Hallingbury; Tennis courts; Volleyball Court; Foreman Equestrian Arena, Roxwell; Chelmsford Golf Club in June and July 2012.Read more>>

Journey to the Podium

Over the past 3 years, 26 artists have been commissioned to create new works inspired by Essex’s elite athletes. The artists' mission involves documenting the athletes’ personal experiences to influence the final work of art. The artists work with the athletes to develop an art work that captures the essence of their personalities and sport.  The project has involved Inspirational school visits where athletes and artists engage students in art and sport.  There are now over 30 pieces in the collection, which is currently being exhibited across Essex and will be included in the Arts in Parliament project as part of the Houses of Parliament London 2012 Festival.  Read more>>

Jumping Dragon

inspired originally by the Beijing Games this new outdoor performance piece brings martial arts and contemporary dance together. Celebrating Chinese Culture, diversity and community cohesion through new performances in Epping, Greenwich and Hackney which will also bring dance, storytelling, music and dance to new audiences. Working with young people the project will also provide opportunities to learn and perform Chinese arts and to learn from professional dancers. Read more>>

Live Art Collective East Programme

Produced by Artsadmin Live Art Collectiev East has developed eight commissions which kick off with the pop-up Hunt & Darton Café in Cambridge in May and end with an installation in a beach hut in Brightlingsea on the first weekend of September. Along the way, the projects take in video trails, mini stadium events, a world record breaking hopscotch attempt in Colchester as part of Sparks Will Fly on 30th June and a performance on Holkham Beach in Norfolk over the August bank holiday weekend. Read more>>

Slack Space Creative Challenge

Slack Space Creative Challenge in Colchester is a volunteer run initiative, that successfully transforms empty shops and buildings into community art spaces, where local artists can present new and exciting work to the general public as well as create a cultural buzz in the town centre.The Creative Challenge culminates on August 4th with a fun day full of family workshops - plus the awarding of the Creative Challenge certificates to successful participants. Read more>>

Sparks Will Fly Engagement Programme

Sparks Will Fly is a county-wide cultural celebration that will begin with the arrival of two Champions who’ll travel around Essex during May and June 2012 making 14 journey stops throughout Essex, before they meet for the first time in a spectacular finale event at Hylands Park, Chelmsford on 6 July 2012 coinciding with the overnight stop of the Olympic Torch Relay. The Finale contributes to the London 2012 Festival. 100,000 Participants are expected. In the run up to the event there is an enormous engagement programme. The project will provide opportunities for young people to learn carnival in every borough of Essex,  provide event management training, a programme for teachers and storytelling workshops as well as developing two new orchestral anthems. It is a comprehensive and professionally produced programme that will deepen the legacy benefits of the final commission performance. Read more>>

SX Inclusive Activities

The London 2012 inspired SX Inclusive Activities programme has developed a range of activities for both disabled young people and adults including taster events, competitive events and gifted and talented events across the county in both schools and the community.  The project has shown that friendship and respect that can be fostered through the events, between participants, providers and spectators. The participants also show their excellence by trying to be the best they can in their particular activity through practice and hard work.  With the schools events so far the young disabled people are inspired by the sports leaders and club coaches who provide the sporting opportunities, to try new activities and the determination to get better. Everyone is given a chance to participate regardless of ability. Read more>>

SX Urban Games

The SX Urban Games is an alternative day of street sports such as skateboarding, bmx-ing, streetball, boxing and hip-hop dancing, based round skate park parks and urban park locations in Essex.  SX Urban Games has been set up to encourage those who do not necessarily take part in mainstream sports and come along to be involved in physical activity. SX Urban Games uses the Olympic and Paralympic values of respect, courage and friendship to inspire young people to take part in recreational sport in an informal way, without the pressure of competition and without the fear of ridicule. The project gives young people the opportunity to come and try some of the sports that will be demonstrated on the day and meet the organisers and young people who are there to get involved. Read more>>

Team Essex Ambassador’s Award

Since 2008, 27 elite Essex based athletes have been supported through this scheme which has been instrumental in their preparations towards achieving Olympic and Paralympic Success at the London 2012 Games. With the athletes moving up in their rankings, the scheme has nurtured the progress of athletes who have been top of their game and continued to improve since 2008, as well as identified new talent along the way. At the time of writing, four athletes have already qualified for the London 2012 Games who are: Saskia Clarke (Sailing), Daniel Bentley (Boccia Men’s singles), Hannah Stodel (Paralympic Sailing) and Roberto Pavoni (Swimming). The others are progressing well as they prepare to qualify in the coming months. The award has helped by enabling some of the athletes to give up work and train full time, help with travel expenses to important competition and training sessions, fund training camps, and contribute towards vital equipment, training kit and sports science and medical support. In return, the athletes have been an inspiration to the people of Essex, particularly with young people; inspiring people try new sports, get fit or strive for excellence through raising the profile of their sports and giving inspirational talks around the county. The project has been awarded the London 2012 Inspire Mark for the positive impact of the athletes’ ambassadorial duties. Read more>>

Team Hadleigh 2012

Team Hadleigh is an ambitious project which will engage a wide range of communities in Essex with their local heritage through several interlinked projects around Hadleigh, the venue for the Olympic Mountain biking competition. Funded by the HLF and run by Essex County Council’s Heritage and Arts Development teams, the project will see school children’s research, commemorative, the creation of an App and audio trail and the chance to send video postcards when visiting the Games themselves. Read more>>
 

Walking your way to the Games

Essex County Council have teamed up with local authorities in Essex to develop a health walks project building on existing and new walks taking place within the county.
Walking your Way to the Games has been awarded the London 2012 Inspire Mark through the project’s main aims to provide health walks in the County which increase participation by encouraging those who do not necessarily take part in sport and physical activity to come along to be involved in physical activity and improve their quality of life. As well as each event employing their local volunteers through their programmes, the programme offers leader training free of charge with the newly qualified leaders deployed within the walks programmes in each local authority. In 2011 a series of walks took place in 10 local authorities in Essex. On average, 300 participants and 30 volunteers were engaged per local authority. Many participants went onto become qualified Walk Leaders through the walks leader training that took place in Southend, Chelmsford, Rochford and Colchester. 14 Projects aimed at engaging a total of 3000 Participants are planned for 2012. Read more>>

2011

Dreams and Memories,Rochford

Rochford District Council’s ‘Dreams and Memories’ project records local people’s Olympic memories as well as opinions and hopes for London 2012. Digital recordings in video and audio format have been added to a national online archive called The People’s Record. The archive holds recordings made by Rochford District children, athletes, artists, councillors and residents, as well as people from across the whole country. Read more>>

Gateway to the Games Southend-on-Sea

An innovative series of bike rides organised by Cycle Southend are supported by Southend-on-Sea's Legacy 2012. They all start from different parts of Southend, and finish at Hadleigh Castle , the scene of the Olympic Mountain Biking events in August 2012. Read more>>

Hub & Spoke

Hub & Spoke has been designed for people inspired to take up cycling or to step up a gear and improve rusty cycling skills, learn basic bike road safety and how to repair their own bikes.
Hub & Spoke is a whole range of cycle projects and programmes that help people to enjoy riding a bike. There may be many reason why people don’t ride; Hub & Spoke helps to overcome many of them! The emphasis of the project is promoting cycling for wellbeing, health, education and sport. We create Hubs that offer pathways for people to take part at whichever level they choose, be it for fun, travel, or sport. Hub & Spoke offers re-cycling and repair, training and employment programmes which deliver work based vocational training placements and employment opportunities. Participants also have the opportunity to gain accredited qualifications in bicycle mechanics and national standards cycle instruction as well as one day workshops and basic cycling skills. We designed, developed and delivered Hub & Spoke Harlow on behalf of Essex County Council. Read more>>

NHS Sport and Physical Activity Challenge, South Essex

South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (SEPT) provides integrated care including mental health, learning disability, social care and community services. They provide services across Bedfordshire, Essex and Luton and employ approximately 6,100 people and serve a population of 1.8 million. Trust’s greatest achievements recently was receiving the London 2012 Inspire Mark for our work around mental wellbeing and physical health. Read more>>

On your Marks 2011

On your Marks was an exhibition looking at wonderful stories, stunning stamps, unusual ephemera and costume from some of the most memorable Olympic and Paralympic Games in recent years that was on display at the Central Museum and Planetarium at Southend-on-Sea July – September 2011.

2010

Chelmsford Mini Games

The Mini Chelmsford Mini Games is a competitive event for children in year 2 (aged 6 and 7) developed by Chelmsford Borough Council Sports Development Team in partnership with Chelmsford School Sports Partnership in 2008. The Chelmsford Mini Games was recognised by the London 2012 Inspire Mark in 2010. The event is held at Chelmsford Sport & Athletics Centre annually in the lead up to the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.  The project was seen as an example of best practice by Essex County Council and The Mini Games is now an Essex wide initiative with over 250 Key Stage 1 children from nine local schools involved in the Essex Mini Games 2011.  Read more>>

Explore Culture: One World Festival

Explore Culture: One World Festival has been recognised by the London 2012 Inspire programme as an outstanding and innovative project that will contribute to the lasting legacy of the 2012 Games across the county. A world of culture will open up for the people of Essex thanks to this exiting project that will celebrate arts, literature and film in the region. Read more>>

Personal Best (Regional Inspire Mark)

PB is a unique national training and volunteering programme linked to the London 2012 Games. It is aimed at young people who are not in education, training or employment and who don’t have a qualification including or above a Level 2. The programme covers a wide range of topics including volunteering and developing interpersonal skills. At the end of the course, participants will gain a level 1 qualification in Preparation for Event Volunteering and be offered a place on an Essex Apprentice scheme. The opportunity was to meet and talk to the first cohort of learners to complete the course. On 16th June 2010 a graduation ceremony for 15 of the learners in Essex was held at County Hall from 6-7.30p with Cllr Stephen Castle and Danny Crates, Paralympic and World Champion; learners & their families/friends, Connexion centre support workers, SEEVIC college and Colchester Institute will be on hand for interviews and photographs.

Sing Up Canvey Island

'Sing-up Canvey Island' has been recognised by the London 2012 Inspire Programme as embracing Olympic values of: Excellence, respect and friendship and Paralympic values of: Courage, determination, inspiration and equality through which primary and secondary pupils on Canvey Island created new opera and folk song compositions. Working with highly skilled practitioners from Essex Music Services and the Royal Opera House, the project was focussed on developing pupils singing skills. There were over 45 adults at the second rehearsal as word spread across the island, subsequently attracting older residents, providing an opportunity for people to socialise and learn new skills in an informal environment. The sessions took place at Northwick Park Primary School and were led by Music Leaders Roisin Quinn and Sarah Goldsmith, with coordination from Sharan Allsopp (Canvey Schools Partnership). Essex County Council and Royal Opera House delivered the 'Sing Up' schools work with the core programme with each school (a total of 40 schools workshops) completed November 2010. Each school devised their own opera or folksong to perform at a Singing Olympics in February 2011.Read more>>

Sporting Heroes, Epping Forest

Epping Forest District Museum - ‘Sporting Heroes’ was a touring exhibition to celebrate the achievements of Eastern England’s sports personalities and clubs from 10 July 2010 - 7 September 2010. The exhibition was a showcase of past, present and future athletes/teams that provide inspiration for a new generation of athletes. Recognising the interest and excitement surrounding the forthcoming London Olympic and Paralympic Games, the exhibition offered a chance for local communities to learn more about sport and how to practice a healthy lifestyle. ‘Sporting Heroes’ forms part of the Renaissance in the Regions touring exhibition programme for the eastern region, travelling to venues such as museums, libraries, schools, sports clubs and other venues of interest. It will comprise of sporting artefacts, text panels and interactive. The exhibition also encourages visitors to sign up for the ‘Get Set’ programme. Sporting heroes is now a touring exhibition around other districts and boroughs in the county including Uttlesford, Chelmsford, Braintree. These exhibitions will feature in some of the journey stops for ‘Sparks Will Fly in Essex, a major Essex-wide cultural Olympiad project that will unite the whole county in cultural activity leading up to the arrival of the Olympic Torch Relay in the county in July 6-7 2012. Read more>>

 

2009

Free Swimming in Castle Point, Braintree and Colchester

In 2009, residents of Castle Point, Braintree and Colchester age 60-and-over and 16-and-under were able to enjoy free swimming as part of the DCMS Free Swimming programme to keep people fit and active, inspired by the build up to the London 2012 Games. Free swims were available during public swim sessions at Waterside Farm Sports Centre and Runnymede Swimming Pool in Castle Point, at Colchester Leisure World in Colchester and at Bramston Sports Centre, Halstead Leisure Centre and Braintree Leisure Centre, Braintree.Read more>>

Southend YMCA Team YP Programme

Southend YMCS Team YP challenge programme delivers sporting activities to disadvantaged young people in Southend. The challenge will provide 12 young people with the opportunities to participate in an exciting range of enjoyable, physical, creative and recreational activities which offers parents and carers a short break. Team YPC draws it's inspiration from the 2012 Games and decathlon inspired, multi-themed activities. Team YPC is a leisure project which harnesses and develops:
• the leadership potential of participants who are actively involved in developing and delivering the project
• the skill base of participants (both individually and as team members) providing a foundation for further achievement
• self-esteem and confidence  Read more>>
 

2008

Essex Jiangsu Festival

The Essex Jiangsu Festival was launched on 23 June 2008. It was the biggest international arts festival that Essex had ever experienced at the time featuring a programme of Chinese inspired events happening until May 2009.  The festival celebrated 20 years of friendship between Essex and Jiangsu Province in China. Over 60 schools in Essex had partner schools in Jiangsu and an increasing number of Essex school children were consequently learning Mandarin. Jiangsu Province attracts more foreign investment than any other province and through Essex County Council’s business programme; many local businesses have been able to successfully expand into new markets in China.  The Festival inspired   ‘East meets West – A twilight spectacle’, an explosive outdoor performance that marked the launch of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad at Weald Country Park at Brentwood. The show was a sell out with 4000 visitors and 12 local schools involved in activities including a moon picnic and lantern parade – inspired by the Chinese Mid Autumn Moon Festival, finale production with pyrotechnic effects and a fire work extravaganza. The partnership responsible for EastmeetsWest are now working together on the major cultural celebration for Essex in 2012 and London 2012 Festival finale ‘Sparks will Fly’ Read more>>

It's our theatre: Thurrock

In August 2008 It’s Our Theatre Thurrock was granted the London 2012 Inspire Mark,for it's work with young people to get them involved, qualified and participating in activities they wouldn't normally have access to. it’s our theatre: Thurrock is encourages young people to fulfil their potential. With the help of partners such as THEATRE IS…the project uses the power of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games to boost participation in Thurrock. “It's Our Theatre has profiled the extraordinary talent that exists in Thurrock. THEATRE IS… is worked with Thurrock Council and Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation to give young people that vital chance to have a go at something they usually would not have the chance to do.” ‘It’s Our Theatre’ project instils management and entrepreneurial skills into young people using the medium of creative arts. The project captures the imagination of young people by putting on a roadshow featuring professional hip-hop performers demonstrating dance, rap and graffiti art. Read more>>

Essex Strategic Board for the 2012 Games Annual Conferences

The Essex Strategic Board for the 2012 Games held annual conferences to update the ESB partnership on plans for Games time and ideas for a legacy. The conferences inspire organisations to work together across the county to establish a legacy from the Games in Essex by taking ideas and strategies back to their local authorities to reach their individual communities. Subsequently, local people and individuals are encouraged to use the inspiration of the Games to unite as part of the bigger picture in the celebrations of the Games, using the ESB as a broker for opportunities, contacts and networks.  All conferences promoted the ESB’s objectives to use the inspiration of the Games to improve quality of the life Essex through Sport, Culture, Business,

Museums Libraries and Archives Literature and Storytelling Project

In the summer of 2008 Essex won another London 2012 Inspire Mark for it's contributions to the Literature and Storytelling MLA ( Museums, Libraries and Archives) Council project: Honouring the Olympic and Paralympic values - a Literature and Storytelling project involving poetry writing workshops and a festival of storytelling. These Museum, Library and Archive activities took place at: Epping Forest District Museum, “Tell us a Story”, intergenerational story telling and drama project with professional story-teller Julian Walker.
Essex Record Office: “Lost rivers”. Stories created by Peter Optical to bring alive the history of the lost communities along the Thames. Thurrock Libraries and Archives: workshop with schools in new housing areas to explore and interpret local history and develop the identity of their area. With professional writer Patrick Ryan. The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council developed a Literature and Storytelling project to mark the launch of the Cultural Olympiad. It created poetry writing workshops and a festival of storytelling, inspired by collections, giving young people an opportunity to learn from established poets and become writers and performers of poetry themselves.  Read more>>

Upstarts - Building a healthy lifestyle legacy

In 2008/09 the 2012 Legacy and Strategic Sport Team supported UpStarts -a year long, innovative project sponsored by Mid Essex Primary Care Trust offering children and young people an opportunity to take part in an Olympic style, training experience, offering ordinary kids the same opportunities as elite athletes, with opportunities to learn about nutrition and to take part in high quality sports. 27 April 2009 Upstarts (Building a healthy legacy from the 2012 Games) food and fitness programme was launched at St Peter’s School in Burnham on Crouch.

Upstarts Project (Building a Healthy Lifestyle Legacy from the 2012 Games) is a fully funded ‘Olympic Style’ food and fitness programme, in the Mid Essex area. The project is funded by NHS Mid Essex and managed by Healthy Solutions Community Interest Company (HLS CIC). The project gives young people the experience of an elite athlete in terms of support to become active, reaching their potential, developing confidence and improving health and well being through cooking and healthy eating. The project was officially launched on Monday 27 April at an Olympic style road show at St Peter’s School Burnham on Crouch. The road show featured an elite athlete, 2012 Essex Ambassador and Olympian Steve Cram MBE, University of Essex, Ashlyn’s Organics and Colchester United sports coaches. Children took part in activities and quizzes, tried and tasted foods and learnt what takes to become an Olympian/Paralympian.

Upstarts will be an ongoing programme between now and 2012 with further healthy life style events to help inspire young people to adopt a healthy lifestyle which mirrors that of an Olympic/Paralympic athlete. The project has also applied for a London 2012 Inspire Mark as this programme has been made successful with the young people through the inspiration of the London 2012 Games.

Upstarts can be delivered anywhere with the Upstarts Tool Kit and Training which encourages multi-agency working and maps out the key delivery and support workers in local authorities and the NHS. The Tool Kit Training helps to bring about a shift in understanding around the issues around supporting children and young people to enjoy and importantly, to continue being active. Read more>>

Village Green Party in the Park

Village Green is the arts festival that Metal developed in partnership with Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, using Chalkwell Park – the park. The first Village Green was created as a launch event in Southend-on-Sea for the Cultural Olympiad and took part over the Open Weekend in September 2008. Metal were awarded the London 2012 Inspire mark – for the Village Green event, one of only 33 events, out of 600 that achieved the mark that year. In 2008 METAL worked with 263 artists and 46 local arts and community groups to create an inspiring day of fun, intrigue, talent, participation and a showcase the creative talent of Southend-on-Sea, alongside some international talent from around the UK and overseas. The event featured a huge mix of participatory arts, a marketplace, sports and other activities for all ages. Read more>>