Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell MP visited Cressex Community School recently to meet students who have been working with disabled artists and athletes to create new artwork which tells the story of the Paralympics, its birth in Buckinghamshire, and the inspiration that drives them.
Driving Inspiration is a project devised by Creative Bucks, a partnership of all the local authorities in Buckinghamshire, has been recognised as part of the London 2012 Inspire Mark Programme. Following a successful pilot programme, Arts Council South East has now awarded the Driving Inspiration project a further £53,800 in funding over the next two years to enable the project to develop across the South East of England.
Tessa Jowell MP met the Driving Inspiration project participants - students from Cressex Community School, disabled artists, Paralympians and key partners. She saw the Driving Inspiration artwork produced by the school students and participated in a two way recorded conversation about her experiences and aspirations around the 2012 Olympics & Paralympics which will form part of a the Buckinghamshire 2012 archive.
The Minister joined artists Rachel Gadsden and Caroline Cardus, local Paralympians Clare Strange and Martin McElhatton, Driving Inspiration Project Manager Vicky Hope-Walker and students from Cressex Community School to select designs for the welcoming posters to be used at the 2012 training camps in Buckinghamshire.
Tessa Jowell completed her visit to Cressex Community School by speaking at a special assembly which featured a short film made as part of the project and a short talk by Cressex students Summon Hussain and Jade Pearce about the role of Young Ambassadors.
After the visit, Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell MP commented: "What I have seen here this morning has made me burst with pride. I've been really looking forward to coming here today and have really enjoyed meeting pupils, staff and members of the Driving Inspiration team. The Olympic and Paralympic Games are something that we will all remember for the rest of our lives. I was inspired by the work of the Driving Inspiration project and what the pupils, Paralympians and the artists have created here at Cressex."