Fourteen Communities across UK to benefit from Glasgow 2014 legacy

Embargoed until 00:01 Monday 19th January 2015

Community-driven programme ensures local people decide how investment will be spent.

Fourteen communities have been selected to receive three years of funding to increase community participation and improve wellbeing as part of the XX Commonwealth Games legacy.

Fourteen is a £3.5m programme funded by Spirit of 2012, a charity set up by the Big Lottery Fund to connect events to communities across the country; tackling disadvantage by supporting opportunities in sport, physical activity, culture and the arts, volunteering and social action.

The communities to benefit from the Fourteen investment:

SCOTLAND:

• Calton (Glasgow) Ruchill & Possilpark (Glasgow), Gorbal (Glasgow) Dumbiedykes (Edinburgh), Caithness (Highlands), Islay (Argyll & Bute)

ENGLAND:

• Harpurhey & Moston (Manchester), Kingstanding (Birmingham), Ryhope & Hendon (Sunderland), Southmead (Bristol)

WALES:

• Mid Rhondda (Rhondda) and Bro Aberffraw (Anglesey)

NORTHERN IRELAND:

• Monkstown & New Mossley (Belfast) and Creggan (Derry/Londonderry)

England, Scotland and Wales will be delivered and managed by UK Community Foundations (UKCF) (in partnership with Community Foundation in Wales, Foundation Scotland, Heart of England Community Foundation, Forever Manchester, Tyne & Wear and Northumberland Community Foundation and Quartet Community Foundation)

Northern Ireland will be delivered and managed by Springboard (in partnership with Strive NI)

Together, with Spirit, the partners will create a legacy of improving wellbeing and happiness. Fourteen is community led and each community will decide themselves how they want to increase participation in one or more of the following activities: social action & volunteering; grass roots sport & physical activity; culture activity & arts; and youth leadership & personal development.

All activities will be inclusive and aimed at supporting local people in developing their potential and feeling able to actively contribute to their community.

Events such as Glasgow 2014 and London 2012 are remarkable in their ability to bring people together: inspiring pride through the power of participation. Fourteen is aimed at sustaining this positivity – empowering people to get out in their local area, to be involved and to feel better.

We will change fourteen communities and thousands of lives.

Debbie Lye, Chief Executive of Spirit of 2012 says:

"Spirit was established to extend the opportunities and inspiration of events, such as London 2012, to communities across the UK. Our investment into Glasgow 2014 and its UK-wide legacy was our first big commitment. Fourteen represents the lion's share of that. The communities announced today are direct grassroots beneficiaries of the Glasgow 2014 legacy. They have put forward what changes they want to see in their neighbourhoods, and have a vision of the difference this money will make. Led by local people to impact local people - we're hugely excited to get fourteen underway."

Kate Stewart, Interim Chief Executive of UKCF added:

"Events such as the London 2012 Olympics and the XX Commonwealth Games play an enormous part in making tangible the 'community spirit' that we so often refer to. The challenge is keeping the momentum of such events going. We're delighted that the communities announced today are set to benefit from this funding and know that, supported by community foundations' local reach and knowledge; this legacy funding will go right into the heart of these neighbourhoods across the UK, helping to keep the sentiment of these sporting events alive. Spirit's vision for these communities is a legacy of wellbeing, aspiration and inclusion and UK Community Foundations and our community foundation partners are proud to be a part of it."

#Fourteen

For further information about the funding of Fourteen and Spirit of 2012, please contact Head of Communications, Penny East penny.east@spiritof2012trust.org.uk 07833 470985

For further information about any of the communities in England, Scotland or Wales, please contact UKCF Communications and Research Manager, Laura Karban lkarban@ukcommunityfoundations.org 0207 713 9326.

Notes to Editors

About Spirit of 2012

Spirit of 2012 was established by the Big Lottery Fund in 2013 to empower people to get out, be involved and feel better. It ensures the spirit that radiated from the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympic is felt across the UK. By connecting events to communities across the country, we ensure our investment is of local, regional and national benefit. Spirit tackles isolation and disadvantage by supporting those providing opportunities in sport, arts and volunteering.

We believe that enabling people to participate in a wide-range of activities will

Improve health and wellbeing of individuals, communities and society as a whole

Improve perceptions of disability and impairment

Lead to greater social cohesion and understanding

www.spiritof2012trust.org @So2012

Spirit of 2012 is a registered charity (1155110) and a limited company (8474083) in England and Wales

About UKCF

UKCF is the membership organisation for community foundations that work across the UK to raise then distribute money directly to local causes. Community foundations operate to ensure any form of philanthropy, whether from an individual or an organisation, is effective and brings greatest benefit to those in need in our local communities. Last year, community foundations made over 20,000 grants, distributing over £65 million to local causes. Community foundations' total managed endowment stood at £450 million in March 2014.

We represent 48 quality accredited community foundation members. Our Quality Accreditation process is endorsed by the Charity Commission and uses standards consistent with the Charity Commission's Hallmarks of an Effective Charity, with robust, transparent and fair assessment processes. Achieving Quality Accreditation demonstrates that community foundations are serious about quality and accountability.