Beyond Sport, the preeminent global organisation in the sphere of sport and development, supported by many of the most powerful leagues and bodies in world sport, will once again demonstrate sport’s power to transform lives in the UK next week, when London 2012 Organising Committee Chair and Beyond Sport Ambassador Seb Coe presents a unique Award to the sport for change project judged the most innovative and tangible in its community across the entire country.
The winner of the P&G UK Impact Award, in association with the Daily Telegraph, will be revealed at the Beyond Sport London Reception on Wednesday 20th June, just over a month ahead of the Beyond Sport Summit, which will be staged in London in the week of the Olympic Games opening ceremony.
The shortlist for the Award has been selected from a host of entries from the UK’s leading sport for change projects. Six projects have been selected, with programmes from London to Portsmouth to Belfast and beyond all set for recognition. The shortlist includes projects tackling crucial issues, from youth unemployment – currently one of the country’s most pressing challenges – to gang crime and conflict resolution, bringing Protestant and Catholic communities together in Northern Ireland, to chronic health problems. Each will receive business support to enable them to further develop their work.
The Award has seen Beyond Sport, the global organisation which supports the use of sport as a tool for positive change across the world, come together with Olympic TOP partner Procter & Gamble (P&G) and the Daily Telegraph to unearth and highlight the country’s leading sport for change projects.
Nick Keller, the Founder of Beyond Sport, commented: “In the Olympic year all eyes are on the UK, and the question of what sport can do for society has never been more widely asked. The issue of socially excluded youth, perhaps the biggest challenge facing this country today, has been reflected in the make-up of the shortlist for this Award. A key part of Beyond Sport’s work is to unearth great community leadership, and the depth of quality in the entries to this award is evidence that such leadership can play a key role in the UK as we tackle the many challenges facing our society.”
Seb Coe, Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee and a Beyond Sport Ambassador, added: “It will be a great pleasure to meet the people behind these inspirational projects, which are using the power of sport to help change the lives of people in their own communities. It’s fantastic to see the impact these projects are already having and will continue to have for many years to come.”
The Beyond Sport Summit & Awards 2012 will be staged in London from 23rd to 25th July 2012. Beyond Sport is partnered with Barclays Spaces for Sports, Time and UNICEF. For more information, visit www.beyondsport.org
The Official Shortlist for the P&G UK Impact Award, in association with the Daily Telegraph
Project: Changing Lives Through Football
Parent Organisation: Street League
Nationwide
Project: Extra Time
Parent Organisation: Football Foundation
England
Project: School Of Hard Knocks
Parent Organisation: School of Hard Knocks Charity
London
Project: Tackling Inequality, Empowering Ability
Parent Organisation: Everton in the Community
Merseyside
Project: The Respect Programme
Parent Organisation: Pompey Sports and Education Foundation
Portsmouth
Project: Promoting Diversity Through Sport
Parent organisation: PeacePlayers International
Belfast
