Community Legacy

Young People Urged to Reach for Gold

A new competition aimed at encouraging young people in the South East to collaborate with countries competing in the 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games has been launched.

Reaching for Gold invites 14-19 year olds to develop ideas that make a practical difference to society in one of three themes - Youth, Community and Disability.  All projects must include opportunities for international collaboration as youngsters work creatively with their peers from overseas.

Encouraged to develop skills that young people need to work in the new economies of the future,
successful 14-19-year-olds  will have the chance to be intensively mentored by an experienced corporate partner, helping them prepare for a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style final to be held at Windsor Castle in December.

Winning applicants will receive the Reaching for Gold trophy and £5,000 towards the development of the winning project.

The competition is being run by SEEDA, the South East England Development Agency, as part of a unique collaboration of nine corporate partners and voluntary and community sector organisations, known as the South East Corporate Cabinet, working together to support the future of the South East’s economy.

For an application form and for further information on the competition please visit www.reachingforgold.org.uk

What is the Cultural Olympiad?
The Olympic and Paralympic Games are about more than sport. The vision of the founder of the modern games, Pierre de Courbertin, was to create an international festival of sport, art and education. This idea was based on the original Greek Olympics which celebrated mind, body and spirit. Until 1948, medals were awarded for sculpture, music, literature and art. The role of the arts in the Olympic movement has increasing importance as young people seek to achieve excellence and explore their role in the world through all creative fields.