mygames youth volunteering programme brings the magic of the 2012 Olympic Games to The Lowry
The Lowry has been chosen as one of just twenty organisations to take part in the UK-wide scheme mygames, which launches today. Inspired by the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, mygames will encourage young people to share their time and talents and make a positive difference in their community.
Alongside other mygames programme partners The National Trust, The Terrence Higgins Trust, The Eden Project and Great Ormond Street Hospital (full list in notes to editors), The Lowry has been charged with capitalising on the excitement and goodwill surrounding the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to make a lasting difference to the lives of young people throughout the UK.
Funded and powered by v, The National Young Volunteers Service, mygames projects throughout the UK will focus around the themes of education, culture, environment, health and sport. The Lowry was chosen by v for its imaginative approach to working with young people, its fresh ideas and its commitment to embracing the opportunities created by the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Lowry will generate an innovative programme of community engagement culminating in a unique 3-day digital arts festival in 2011, Young members of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities in and around Salford will provide the lead - researching, programming, marketing, organising, staging and staffing the festival in partnership with other volunteers across Greater Manchester.
The Lowry’s Chief Executive Julia Fawcett commented, “The Lowry is a place that nurtures creativity so it’s fitting that we have been chosen to participate in this fantastic scheme inspired by the 2012 Olympics. The Digital Futures project will help young volunteers develop a wide-range of skills, promote tolerance and understanding and make a meaningful and lasting difference to different communities in Salford and Greater Manchester.”
This festival will use digital technologies to provide entertainment, interaction and information, presenting audiences with new work created by young people in diverse and innovative ways.
mygames organisers hope to tap in to a recent survey on attitudes to 2012 which showed that a third of people in the UK say they would give up their time for an Olympic-inspired activity. Among young people, there was even greater enthusiasm, with 48 per cent saying they would give up their time, according to the DCMS survey.
Terry Ryall, v’s Chief Executive, says: “v is delighted to award The Lowry this grant to support volunteering among 16-25s. We are committed to strengthening the role of young people in society. mygames is a fantastic way to harness the talents, energy and enthusiasm of a new generation of young people.”
Posted on Monday, 05 July 2010 under News General Press