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2012 Design Competition Launched for UK Schools
THE ‘VeloDream’
competition; a UK schools competition for pupils to design their
own dream Olympic cycling venues of the future, was launched by the
Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) today giving schools throughout the
North West the chance to get involved in the excitement of the
London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
A world-class Velodrome and BMX facilities will host the track and
BMX events during 2012 and after the Games, a road cycle circuit and
mountain biking facilities will be added to create a legacy VeloPark.
The competition for school children aged 5 to 16, is asking
schools to tap into the creative talents of their pupils to design
their own dream VeloPark to host the cycling sports of a future
Games.
Schoolchildren have a blank canvas to work with and
their designs can be illustrations, paintings, drawings,
photos, computer images, presentations and even films.
The
competition has been planned to complement the Design and Technology
school curriculum.
Information packs developed with The Design &
Technology Association are now available to download from the London
2012 website to help teachers and pupils bring the
competition to their school.
The VeloDream competition was launched with more than 180 schools
around the country already signed up to take part.
Schools have
until the end of November to submit their design entries after which
regional judging will take place with a panel including design
experts and young people.
A winning primary and secondary
school from each region will be selected for the competition final
early next year where a primary and secondary school will be
announced as national winners.
The prize for the two winning schools
will include the unique opportunity to work with the 2012 VeloPark
designers, and learn at first-hand how to create a world-class
sports venue.
David Higgins, Olympic Delivery Authority Chief Executive, said:-
“Youth participation, world-class sport and design excellence are
all at the heart of our plans for 2012 so the VeloDream competition
is a great way to bring these elements together in the classroom and
inspire schoolchildren around the country.
Young people have the
chance to let their imagination run wild in designing their own
dream VeloPark so I encourage them to get involved in the VeloDream
competition today and bring the excitement of 2012 into their
school.”
Sebastian Coe, Chairman of the London Organising Committee, said:-
“One of our key goals for London 2012 is to inspire young
people, and make it ‘everyone’s games’.
This is one of many
initiatives we are working on to capture the imagination of young
people on the road to 2012.”
Andy Worthington, Chair of the Northwest Steering Group for the 2012
Games, said:- “This is a great opportunity for children across
the Northwest to get involved in the excitement of 2012 and use
their creative talents to go for gold in designing their dream
VeloPark for a future Games.
I wish all our regional schools the
best of luck, and would encourage them all to get involved in this
exciting project."
Olympic Cycling Champion Chris Hoy said:- “Winning gold at the
Olympic Games was an unmatchable experience that will stay with me
for as long as I live.
The competition presents a superb
opportunity for any young person who has ever dreamed about the
Olympic Games to put themselves in the shoes of a competitor,
spectator and local resident and really think about how they could
enhance that experience through design.
Aside from being on the
track, it’s the next best thing!”
Full details about the VeloDream competition and resource packs for
schools are available at
www.london2012.com/velodream.
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CHARITY CELEBRATES LIVERPOOL BUILDING SUCCESS
VOLUNTEERS,
home buyers and staff at an Toxteth-based charity aiming to provide
affordable housing are celebrating the completion of their first 3
homes built thanks to local ‘sweat equity’.
The L8 development is international charity Habitat for Humanity’s
first delve into the north west of England and aims to build 32 new
properties for local families who could otherwise not afford their
own home – substituting a costly cash deposit for volunteer work in
the construction of their new home. And what better way to
commemorate this milestone for the group than to throw a party for
everyone who has been involved in making home owning a reality for
local families.
Revd Dr Shannon
Ledbetter, Chair of Liverpool Habitat for Humanity (LHFH), says:-
“While Habitat for Humanity is an international charity which
builds in many countries, it is relatively unknown in England. It’s
fantastic for us to have completed our first 3 homes and there are
so many people who we want to thank for helping us to reach this
first milestone.
The celebration event will give us a chance to do
this and to fully appreciate the work that has gone into the first 3
homes.
We rely on donations of money and materials, as well as
the labour of volunteers and future homeowners alike to build homes,
without which none of this is possible.
We are always on the lookout
for new volunteers to join the team and with 29 homes still to be
built, the more help we can get on board the better.”
The Celebration Event will take place at the development on
Wednesday 19 September, where all those who have been involved in
the project will be able to have a look at the finished work, talk
about their experiences and look to the future of the project.
Charanjeet Birdie, who has bought one of the first 3 homes, says:-
“Habitat for Humanity is a great idea and has made home buying
more affordable for local people who are having trouble buying their
first home.
There’s a great community feel and a wide mix of people
who have helped here who all have their own reasons for being
involved and it’s a good feeling to be part of that.
I’ve met a lot
of good people, learned new skills and my volunteer work has kept me
fit!”
Prospective home owners with Liverpool Habitat for Humanity are
given the opportunity to substitute a cash deposit by instead
investing 500 hours of ‘sweat equity’ in the construction of
their new home. This labour then counts as a £10,000 down payment on
the property. The prospective buyers may obtain as little as a
£40,000 mortgage up to 2/3rds of the purchase price of the home,
whilst paying no rent on the remaining equity for up to 5 years.
The home buyers work closely with other volunteers under the
supervision of a trained site manager and other construction
workers. Many businesses from across Liverpool and further a field
have also been on site for corporate team building sessions.
Whilst no previous experience or skills are necessary to become a
volunteer with LHFH, the charity would also love to hear from people
who do have experience and could act as ‘team leaders’, as
well as qualified tradesmen such as plumbers and electricians who
could help out with specialist tasks.
For further information
about the Celebration Event, contact LHFH project manager Nikki
Bonner, tel:- 0151 280 6232.
Be a part of Liverpool Habitat for Humanity where homes are built by
the community for the community.
For further information about
applying for a property or volunteering with Liverpool Habitat for
Humanity, tel:- 0151 280 6232, or
email.
The charity’s
website, which has a link to their
film, ‘Build, Donate, Participate’. |
