Spirit of 2012 makes £3.5m investment following Glasgow Commonwealth Games
Howard Lake | 6 August 2014 | News
Spirit of 2012, a charity established by the Big Lottery Fund, has made its first major programme of grants to 14 communities around the UK inspired by the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
The charity was set up to fund projects and places that encapsulate the spirit of the London Games in 2012. It was established through an endowment of £46m from the sale of the Olympic and Paralympic villages.
The first grants are part of a larger £5m programme designed to ensure that people can access the opportunities created by the Commonwealth Games. The grants are being distributed by UK Community Foundations, Strive NI and Springboard.
Fourteen communities will be able to access £250,000 each. Six areas are in Scotland, three of which will be in Glasgow. The funds will be spent on projects that incorporate social action, volunteering, grassroots sports, the arts, youth leadership and personal development.
The recipients of the funding have not yet been determined. Discussions with the delivery partners are underway at this moment on this subject.
Lord Coe said:
“It is hugely encouraging to see that Spirit of 2012 is investing in a real legacy of Glasgow 2014. By supporting these fourteen communities for the next three years Spirit demonstrates a commitment to long-term change, not quick fixes, right across the UK. Fourteen is a legacy for London and a legacy for Glasgow that will endure long after the fantastic memories of the last two weeks have faded.”
Chair of Spirit of 2012, Dugald Mackie added:
Advertisement
“Spirit is ensuring that money generated as a legacy of the London Games is directly creating a legacy for Glasgow 2014. The obstacles to people benefiting from and being involved in events such as the Commonwealth Games can range from geographical to financial to psychological. We aim to help reduce these barriers”.
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.