UK pupils Get Set for Community Action

Get Set for Community Action is a brand-new programme which aims to strengthen relationships between young people and their local communities through the Olympic Values (friendship, excellence and respect) and the Paralympic Values (courage, determination, equality and inspiration). Thousands of 14-19 year olds – ‘Action Leads’ – will work in teams across the UK, building relationships with local community groups to plan and deliver at least two projects each, in the run-up to the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

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Students from Davenant Foundation School, Essex, visited their local care home as part of a Rio-themed day on Monday 30th November. The team of teenagers travelled to Woodland Grove to take part in Zumba classes, a bowls competition, craft activities and a Rio-inspired lunch with the residents. This event was the first project to be delivered as part of Get Set for Community Action, a new UK-wide programme created by the British Olympic Foundation and British Paralympic Association.

Get Set for Community Action will support teams of thousands of 14-19 year olds in working with local community groups to plan and run projects which help to make their communities healthier and more active places to live. Joining the event to help celebrate the launch was Paralympic swimmer Amy Marren and Olympic diver Sarah Barrow.

“Get Set for Community Action is such a good idea because it’s involving young people in their own communities,” said Amy. “It’s not just the young people that benefit from it, it’s the community itself. It’s so nice to see the barrier between old and young has been completely diminished and everyone has just come together to enjoy themselves. It’s brilliant!”

Sarah added: ““I think it’s really important for local students to get involved in community work. Today we’ve been at the care home and looking around at everyone’s faces, the students have really brightened up their day by taking part in the activities with them. It’s great to see everyone enjoying themselves.”

Get Set for Community Action is part of the Get Set programme. Pupils aged 14-19 are invited to join the programme by getting together plan and deliver a project that will benefit their local community. With less than 250 days to go until the Rio 2016 Games, students are encouraged to work with community partners to run projects inspired by the Olympic and Paralympic Movements. Projects might include clearing a local garden, running a Rio-inspired picnic for younger children or organising a sport taster session for older people. Free resources for teachers are available to download as part of the programme.

Jan Paterson, chief executive of the British Olympic Foundation said: “It’s great to see the Get Set programme continue to offer empowering and engaging opportunities for young people and their communities. Get Set for Community Action is a dynamic and creative way to improve life skills as well as staying active, and the British Olympic Foundation is incredibly proud to be part of a programme which is so supportive of the Olympic Movement and its values.”

Visit www.getsetaction.org.uk or contact [email protected] for more information.