All posts by K. Mayer

Award, Games Legacy

Schools benefit from Lottery Fund

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St Elisabeth’s Primary and Nursery school and Cleveden Secondary School have been awarded funding to develop initiatives related to the cultural programme of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Amongst the 11 project selected so far are a Shetland youth cafe, a Highlands mountain bike festival, a north Glasgow community arts project and an East Lothian Museum.

11 grants worth £74,477 are the first from Celebrate, a National Lottery funding programme supporting events and projects which celebrate Glasgow 2014 or that are inspired by the 71 nations and territories which make up the Commonwealth.

Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, Maureen McGinn said: “This time next year the eyes of the world will be on Scotland as Glasgow gears up to host the Commonwealth Games. Celebrate has been created by Scotland’s four Lottery distributors to ensure communities across Scotland are able to share the feel-good factor of the Games and we are delighted to see these first grants showcasing a wide variety in what will be possible.

“Celebrate offers an opportunity for everyone to get involved with Lottery funding of up to £10,000 on offer to arts, heritage, sports and community groups across the country to hold one off events.”

Cranhill Arts Project, in North Glasgow has been awarded £8,462 to run a series of workshops with a wide range of local people enabling them to make sculptures and murals on a sporting theme. The hard work will culminate with an exhibition and celebration.

Project Co-ordinator Chris Nicoletti said: “We are delighted to have received this generous award from celebrate; the funding will enable us to deliver a vibrant program of activities while bringing the community together in a celebration of the 2014 Commonwealth Games. For many of the groups we work with this could be the only chance they will have the get involved with the Commonwealth Games.”

On Shetland Yell Youth Café have been awarded £8,000 to get involved and celebrate the Glasgow games. Support Worker, Martin Summers, said, “This funding will provide Shetland’s young people with the opportunity to ensure that Glasgow 2014 and the four legacy themes reach the length and breadth of Scotland. With about a year to go to the Youth Legacy Ambassadors, Youth Ambassadors and Yell Youth Café are all very excited to start work on Celebrating Glasgow 2014.”

Young Scot Youth Legacy Ambassador, Sam Maver, said, “We are so excited to receive the Celebrate funding as it allows young people in Shetland to get involved in sporting and cultural events to help raise awareness of the Commonwealth Games. The funding will help to promote Glasgow 2014 in Shetland so that young people can get involved and feel part of the legacy the games will provide for the next generation.”

Celebrate has been developed by the SLDF which is made up of all four Scottish Lottery Distributors, Big Lottery Fund, Creative Scotland, Heritage Lottery Fund and sportscotland . It is open to applications from today for celebrations of the people, places and culture of the Commonwealth and of the Games themselves.

Award, Inspire>Aspire, partnership

Young people display Olympic spirit: The 2013 Inspire>Aspire Awards

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Some of the country’s brightest young people visited Glasgow City Chambers to receive medals for their work on the Inspire-Aspire programme from Olympic Gold Medallist rower, Katherine Grainger CBE, IOC member Sir Craig Reedie CBE and the Lord Provost of Glasgow Cllr Sadie Docherty.

The Inspire-Aspire Awards programme reached 25,000 young people this year by using the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the character qualities of Olympians to inspire young people to set personal goals and to develop future aspirations.

Winning a joint- Gold, 1st Level award at the event were Iona Robertson, Banff Academy and Dornie Burnett from Inverurie Academy.

Dornie chose Nadia Elena Comăneci as her inspirational figure as part of her work on the programme.  Expressing her reasons for her chosen inspirational figure, Dornie said:

 “How many future gymnasts did Nadia inspire? I don’t know the exact number, but it is at least one, because she inspired me”.

 Before presenting the awards, Olympian Grainger told an enthralled audience that it takes commitment and courage to reach the top. She spoke about how it was sheer determination that had helped her finish the race at the London Olympics in 2012. Grainger expressed how important using the Olympic and Paralympic values in everyday life can be, not just in sport.

Inspire-Aspire aims to help young people gain a better understanding of their own character qualities and values and inspire them to create a personal development plan. 

Iona explained how much of an impact participating in Inspire-Aspire has had on her: “The questions it asked me made me put my goals and targets into perspective.”

Active, Award, partnership

Schools Sport Award

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The Scottish Government announced a new scheme to regonise innovative ways of delivering school PE and extra-curricular sport . The School Sports Awards, intially introduced in three local authorities this August, will accredit schools that continuously improve PE and school sport and deepen sporting links between the school and the local community.

For more information on the award scheme please visit the Scottish Government’s News page.

If you are looking for inspirations on how to create exciting opportunties for learners around physical activirites and PE within their schools and the wider community why not have a look at the Going for Gold initiative or Larbert Cluster project, two of our Game On Scotland case studies.

International Education, partnership

Commonwealth Class: BBC live debate

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DEBATE TIME: Thursday, 13th of June from 1100-1300;  Target age:  7 – 14

Join pupils around the world for the first ever Commonwealth Class debate.

How it works

In class, watch the film on the Commonwealth Class website about the ‘woman behind the fastest man alive‘.  Talk about this in class and gather some opinions, examples and comments to share with pupils around the world.

Go back to the page at any time between 1100-1300 BST on Thursday, 13th of June to share and discuss your ideas by emailing them to commonwealthclass@bbc.co.uk

Commonwealth Class will publish pupils’ opinions on the site, allowing schools to respond and converse in real time.

The aim is to include as many contributions as possible.

Educational resources, International Education, International partnerships, partnership

Join the “Commonwealth Class”

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The BBC, the British Council and the Commonwealth Secretariat have joined forces to bring you Commonwealth Class, an exciting new opportunity for schools.

Commonwealth Class is a special initiative that provides teaching resources, online debates and interactive activities for schools to mark the run-up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games. It celebrates the values of the Commonwealth and connects schools and young people as they learn about how to be active, responsible global citizens as part of the Commonwealth family.

The Commonwealth Class education pack is an exciting resource designed to teach young people about Commonwealth values such as rights and responsibilities, protection of the environment, respect for others and what people need to lead healthy lives free from poverty.
Produced by the British Council, the resource pack contains cross-curricular activities, short films and discussion guides with learning outcomes that link to key skills, curriculum subjects and Commonwealth values. Activities include what qualities you need to be a successful Commonwealth athlete, and an exploration of the route of the Queen’s Baton Relay which will visit all 71 countries and territories taking part in the 2014 games.

Get set for 2014 and download the British Council Commonwealth Class education pack today.

BBC online debates
Commonwealth Class partner, the BBC, is hosting a series of monthly online debates commencing this summer. The debates are intended to create a platform for schools in the UK and Commonwealth countries to teach and learn together.
The first debate in the series will take place on Thursday 13 June.
Visit Schools Online and sign up to Commonwealth Class for more resources and interactive activities that support lesson planning and teaching across the curriculum
And a week before the first debate you can visit the BBC’s Commonwealth Class website to find out how you can take part!

Games Legacy, Uncategorized

Brand new Game On Scotland materials!

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Three new exciting learning journeys as well as an additional three videos have been released this week on Game On Scotland.

Learning Journeys

The learning journeys have been developed around migration and  human rights issues with Community Learning in mind as well as in support of creativity and expressive arts:

Video releases

Three new videos have been released to support the case study about Calderglen High School’s successful Games Legacy programme.  The short clips feature members of the senior management team and pupils from Calderglen High school talking about the impact of the Games on learning, values education and overall school ethos.

Legacy 2014

Legacy 2014: Going wild in the woods

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Around 90 children were joined by Clyde the official Commonwealth Games mascot, as they competed in Glasgow’s first Woodland Games in Drumchapel.

The event, which took place in Garscadden Woodland in the north west of the city, saw nine and 10-year-olds from Camstradden Primary School, St Clare’s Primary School, Antonine Primary School and Langfaulds Primary School competing against one another to win a trophy made from Oak for their school.

Pupils competed in various sports, including cross country running, archery, tug of war, javelin, long jump, tree touch, relay and short putt.

Organised by The Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) the event aimed to inspire young people to use their local woodland and catch the Commonwealth spirit.

Games Legacy, Glasgow 2014

Glasgow 2014 News

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Want to know more about the fastest 19 year old in the world, Colin Gregor (Scotland’s Rugby 7 Captain), how to become an athlete etc. why not go to the news section of Glasgow 2014:

Main topics in May:

Glasgow 2014

The Queen’s Baton – A Glasgow design goes global

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Glasgow-based product design company 4c Design Limited has today (Tuesday, 28th May) been revealed as designers of the iconic Queen’s Baton that will visit all 71 competing Commonwealth Nations and Territories ahead of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

The Queen’s Baton Relay is a tradition unique to the Games and seeks to unite the two billion citizens of the Commonwealth in a celebration of sport, diversity and peace. 

Glasgow 2014’s baton will itself make history by being the first to visit Rwanda as the relay covers an epic 190,000 km over 288 days. 

Set up in 2002, 4c Design Limited has an established record as a leader in the fields of product design and product design engineering. The innovative design culture for which the consultancy is celebrated will now be applied to this unique commission to produce a confident symbol that will lead the way to Glasgow 2014.

The Queen’s Baton project will be led by William Mitchell, 4c Design Director, who has more than 15 years of experience since graduating from Glasgow School of Art with a BA (Hons) in Product Design. He will lead a team of specialist designers including Managing Director of 4c Design Limited, Robin Smith, a graduate in Product Design Engineering from the GSA.

Weighing no more than 2kg, the baton must be robust enough to withstand all weathers and various transport modes in order to be in constant working order for the 10-month period of the relay.

The baton will be unveiled later this summer and begins its journey on 9 October at Buckingham Palace when Her Majesty The Queen will place Her message to the Commonwealth inside. From there, the baton will travel to Glasgow and begin its epic worldwide journey.

From the plains of Africa to the gleaming skyscrapers of Singapore; from the tiny tropical islands of St Lucia and Dominica to Canada’s snow-capped mountain; the baton will take over land, sea and air before travelling the length and breadth of Scotland on its way to its final destination – the Glasgow 2014 Opening Ceremony. (see also http://www.gameonscotland.org/glasgow2014/about/queensbatonrelay.asp)

Glasgow 2014 Chief Executive, David Grevemberg, said:

“The Queen’s Baton Relay is one of the greatest traditions of the Commonwealth Games. The baton itself is a powerful symbol of the unity and diversity of the 71 nations and territories of the Commonwealth, which is home to one third of the world’s population.

“Glasgow 2014’s Queen’s Baton Relay is Scotland’s heartfelt invitation to the athletes, people and communities of the Commonwealth to come together and celebrate sport, culture and unity through the power of the Games.

“The Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton will be unique and inspiring and we want it capture the imagination of the public in Glasgow, Scotland, the Home Nations and beyond.

“Glasgow 2014 is delighted to appoint 4c Design Limited to design the Queen’s Baton for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and I look forward to the company creating a baton that will take Glasgow and Scotland to the Commonwealth in an inspiring way.”

4c Design Limited Director and Owner, William Mitchell, said:

“The team at 4c Design have a passion for product design and engineering excellence, and as such we truly believe there is no better home for what is potentially the most exciting design brief of the decade.

“We are delighted that the Glasgow 2014 team has appointed 4c Design to design, engineer and manufacture the Queen’s Baton for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

“Teamwork has been crucial to the development of the baton and it’s been a master class in creative collaboration with the professional and receptive team at Glasgow 2014.

“Very few agencies can include Her Majesty in their client list and we intend to do her, and this innovative and exciting city proud.”

Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport Shona Robison said:

“Every Games baton is unique and 4c Design Limited now has the honour of designing a small piece of Glasgow to carry the Queen’s message to two billion people around the Commonwealth.”

For more information on this story go to : http://www.glasgow2014.com/press-releases/glasgow-2014-goes-local-design-and-produce-queens-baton-global-journey

Glasgow 2014

Impact of Commonwealth Games on East End of Glasgow

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Four out of five residents of Glasgow’s east end think the Commonwealth Games will have a positive impact in their area according to a study published today.

Over a thousand people from Bridgeton, Calton, Camlachie, Dalmarnock, Gallowgate and Parkhead were asked their views in summer 2012 on the impact of significant investment in improved infrastructure, sports facilities and housing associated with the Games.

This is the first part of a five year community study to measure the success of the Scottish Government’s Legacy 2014 programme. The survey shows:

  • 81 per cent think the 2014 Commonwealth Games will have a positive impact in their local area;
  • 76 per cent support, or strongly support, Glasgow hosting the Games – levels improved during and after London 2012;
  • 44 per cent thought their neighbourhood had improved in the last three years;
  • 37 per cent agreed they have influence in decisions made about their local area.

The survey also identified the need for further improvements to the environment that can be addressed by regeneration and preparations for the Games, such as:

  • Many people (75 per cent) thought their local environment was untidy, suffering problems of rubbish and litter;
  • Feelings of safety walking in the area at night-time were lower (by 11 percentage points) than across the city as a whole.

Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport Shona Robison, said:

“The 2014 Commonwealth Games are central to the transformation of the east end of Glasgow, regenerating the area and creating physical, economic and social benefits for all.

“With the new Emirates stadium in place, the transformation of Bridgeton Cross, the creation of the Athletes Village and the Tollcross swimming pool being upgraded to a world-class standard, the investment to date has seen a dramatic change in the local landscape.

“As part of our firm commitment to delivering a lasting legacy from the Games, it’s vital we undertake robust evaluation in the run up to 2014 and beyond to understand how the Games are impacting on the lives and health of our communities.

“These study results provide us with a clear picture of the views and opinions of the people living at the heart of the Games action, one we believe we can build on as Games time draws nearer.”

Professor of Urban Studies at the University of Glasgow Ade Kearns, principal investigator for the study, said:

“The survey findings show that parts of the East End of Glasgow are already changing as a result of developments over the past few years, and that residents are aware of these improvements. But the results also show the need, and indeed the scope, for further action to achieve the legacy aims identified for the Commonwealth Games, for example around physical activity and neighbourhood quality.

“This initial survey is an important baseline for measuring change over time and the effects of regeneration and legacy programmes within our study cohort. As researchers, we are very pleased that the Scottish Government and other sponsors are supporting a long-term study of this kind in the host communities of the East End of the city.”

Stewart Harris, Chief Executive of sportscotland, added:

“sportscotland is using Glasgow 2014 as a catalyst to accelerate our plans for implementing a world-class sporting system at all levels, and we want people from all over Scotland to be inspired by hosting this top-level multi-sport event and to take part in more sport and physical activities.

“The communities in the East End of Glasgow are benefitting tremendously from being able to use world-class facilities at the Emirates Arena and Tollcross International Swimming Centre, and will shortly also have access to the Glasgow Green Hockey Centre.”

The ‘GoWell’ study in the east end of Glasgow, a partnership between the Scottish Government, NHS Health Scotland and sportscotland, will record over five years the changes to health and quality of life of east end communities as a result of the significant investment in the area.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring the Games delivers positive and lasting benefits for the whole of Scotland through Legacy 2014, the Government’s programme to capitalise on the economic, social and cultural advantages of the Games.

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