Community Games Relay

Day 11 - Wednesday 29th May 2013

A Community Games took place at the Black Country Living Museum between 12.00noon and 2.00pm.

The Community Games will include an egg and spoon race, three-legged race, a hula hoop competition and garden games such as giant Jenga. Visitors to the museum will be invited to take part in the day's activities, along with a number of special guests, including Olympic Torch Bearers.There will be a presentation to the Shining Light at around 1.00pm.

Shining Light: Paige Harris

Paige has lived in supported accommodation since the age of 12 and, with her share of problems, was in danger of going somewhat ‘off the rails’. She was persuaded to go to Nova Training to get basic qualifications, where she met Kim Meaden. Kim persuaded her to take part in the Sport Maker programme, supported by the Black Country BeActive Partnership. Paige was reluctant at first because she doesn’t even like sport, but Kim assured her that she didn't have to play. Paige still doesn’t like sport but enjoys organising it. She enjoys the management side of things, and from this got involved in Community Games. This was a great experience for her and gave her the opportunity to get involved. This meant the world to Paige, because being a Community Games Organiser wasn't about winning the trophy, it was about taking part and giving 100% time and effort in getting different communities to come together. Paige has never been given the opportunity to be involved in any event organisation before, let alone be asked to be part of the Nova Community Games Organising team. It really did bring the best out in her. Paige realised her potential when she ran the Nova Community Games, which was then nominated for Community Games Event of the Year at the 2012 Black Country Sport & Physical Activity Awards, and Paige herself was also nominated for Sport Maker of the Year. Kim has always told Paige to reach for the stars, and although Paige didn't win either award, she is determined to work harder and win in 2013. Since the Nova Community Games took place, Paige has been volunteering for Urban Kickz where she now organises tournaments for different groups and is also taking her Level One Football qualification so that she can run her own mini kickerz on a Saturday morning. Paige also shadows Kim at coaching sessions with the brownies, and has spoken to young people about the importance of volunteering and that anyone can do it. Paige couldn't have achieved any of this without the confidence she gained from organising a Community Games. As Paige says “People should get involved in sport. You don't have to play sport to make a difference; there are plenty of jobs for everyone to do from marketing to management. Find your place and live up to your potential. If I can, you can!”

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Day 12 - Thursday 30th May 2013

Community Games organisers were invited to undertake a virtual recreation of the Olympic Torch Relay through Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin.

Coinciding with Energize’s first year of operation as a charitable company this event hopes to raise money to support local Community Games which are themselves organised by community and voluntary groups. Energize STW will invite partners and Community Games organisers to undertake a virtual recreation of the Olympic Torch Relay on treadmills and hand bicycles. Using the inspiration of the Torch Relay and involving some of the inspiring people from our own community we will try and raise money, and ignite that inspiration and encourage other people to organise Community Games.

Shining Light: John Williams

Shropshire is well known as being where the inspiration for the modern Olympics came from, with Dr William Penny Brookes founding the Wenlock Olympian Games in 1850. In the 1970s the ethos behind the Games was falling by the wayside and a man called Norman Wood reinvigorate the Games and breathed new life into the athletics club, the Olympian Society and the arts club. John Williams has been nominated as the Shining Light as he was involved in the project and has taken the Games forward during the last five or six years since Norman passed away. John is a longstanding member of the athletics club and an athletics coach.

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Day 13 - Friday 31st May 2013

An 8,000 mile ‘challenge’ over eight days to commemorate the time the Olympic Torch was held in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

The Challenge commences on May 24th with a mini launch, and finishes on May 31st. The Shining Light will be presented with their jersey by the MP for Stafford - Jeremy Lefroy.

Shining Light: John Finney

John, who was a town and regional planner until retirement in 2005, has been nominated for his voluntary contribution to athletics in Staffordshire over 35 years, including leading the South Staffordshire Athletics Network since 2009 and organising a Community Games.

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Day 14 - Saturday 1st June 2013

The event celebrated 100 years of YMCA North Staffs with a charity abseil and community feast.

The YMCA is hosting a celebratory day with a charity abseil, five-a-side tournament and face painting. Torchbearers from last year are invited to bring their torches for young people to have their photos taken with the torches in order to inspire them. The Shining Light will be receiving their jersey from one of the 2012 Torchbearers, Angela Smith, who runs local radio station Knott FM.

Shining Light: Conor Flynn

Conor is a Sports assistant who started taking part in sporting activity at the YMCA and now works there on both a paid and voluntary basis. He is passionate about sport and spends time encouraging others to take part as well.

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Day 15 - Sunday 2nd June 2013

An ‘In the City’ Community Games took place as part of the Carnival of Giants.

Taking place in Town Hall Square Chester City Centre, local sports associations are invited to join in assembling a ‘Sporting Giant’. Alongside a variety of sports activities, the Shining Light will be presented with their jersey by a local Olympian.

Shining Light: Linda Downey

Linda works at Petty Pool College in Cheshire. She has been chosen as our ‘shining light’ as she has been integral, alongside other key members of staff at the college, in developing and embedding sport and physical activity within the college as an additional development and learning tool for the students. In response to student requests, Linda was the driving force behind training 40 students to be volunteer Sport Makers who then had the skills and confidence to plan and deliver opportunities for the whole college to participate and compete against each other in a range of activities. Linda then supported this group of volunteers to establish an organising committee and deliver the first ever Petty Pool Games in 2012. Linda’s hard work in supporting these students, and creating links with the CSP to source additional resources and support, resulted in a hugely successful event, attended by GB Paralympic Footballer Matt Dimbylow, and the Mayor. The event highlighted the role of sporting opportunities in bringing the students together and developing their skills, and the Petty Pool Games is now becoming an annual event.

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Day 16 - Monday 3rd June 2013

A presentation was made to the Shining Light at Liverpool Pier Head.

The event will highlight a 5k walk, known as the Pramathon, aimed at young mums and children, which took place at the weekend. It was the idea of an event organiser who represents one of the many Community Champions in Merseyside.

Shining Light: Tracy Sanderson

Tracy is a Health Promotions Worker for Liverpool City Council. Based in Kirkdale, one of the most deprived areas of Liverpool, Tracy works with families and educates them on the importance of health, activity and well-being. She organised the Pramathon to offer families a chance to experience activity together and at a pace that everyone can benefit. It also demonstrates the social benefits of physical activity At 10am at Liverpool Pier Head we will present Tracy with her jersey and thank her for all her hard work on the Pramathon event.

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Day 17 - Tuesday 4th June 2013

A Community Games event was held, with a variety of multi-sport activities from sack races to football.

The event will is being run in partnership with Fylde New Housing on the Lower Lane housing estate in Freckleton. Flags from countries who took part in the Olympics will be placed around the YMCA venue to celebrate the Relay. A presentation will be made to the Shining Light, who is helping to organise the Games, by the YMCA Chief Executive John Cronin during the day.

Shining Light: Declan Kirkman

Declan is 19, and a Coach at Blackpool FC Community Trust as well as a part time centre worker at the Ansdell YMCA. The YMCA secured some funding for Declan to take his Level 1 Football Coaching Award, which resulted in his job at Blackpool FC. He volunteered on the Community Games programme last year, and is a fantastic role model for all the young people on the estate – Lower Lane Freckleton – where he lives. The term ‘Shining Light’ is very applicable to Declan.

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Day 18 - Wednesday 5th June 2013

This was a Photo shoot for the Shining Light presentation.

The Shining Light will be presented with their commemorative jersey at Witton Park by Lancashire Sport's Chief Executive, Adrian Leather and Blackburn with Darwen Council's lead for Culture & Sport at 1pm. Sporting volunteers and representatives of local community groups will be in attendance to celebrate volunteering week in Lancashire

Shining Light: Ann Ellwood

Ann has been volunteering in sport for more than 35 years. She's been involved in women’s & girls’ football, and was a shining light within this unusual area over 30 years ago. She's passionate about football, and using sport to help girls develop into women in their local communities. Last year Ann was an Olympic Torchbearer, nominated by her daughter for her inspiration to others and dedication and commitment to women’s & girls’ football.

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Day 19 - Thursday 6th June 2013

A mini Community Games event took place in Hirst Park.

The event is a taster for the first Community Games being held in the park later in the year, organised by the Friends of Hirst Park.With a little bit of sport (cricket), a little bit of culture (dance) and then a presentation to the Shining Light by local MP Ian Lavery, the event will promote Community Games across the county.

Shining Light: Lisa Surtees

Lisa was born in the states and has lived in the UK in the north-east for 13 years. She became a member of the 'Friends of Hirst Park' when they moving to Ashington in 2010. The Friends Of Hirst Park meet together to improve and develop Hirst Flower Park and its surrounding area. Their work includes:Promoting environmental improvement and enhance opportunities for wildlife and biodiversity. Creating opportunities to educate, encourage and support the local community in environmental practice including recycling. Promoting leisure, sport, community recreation and play facilities. Developing social opportunities and encouraging the social interaction and support of isolated members of the community such as the elderly, young parents and those on low incomes. Lisa is the Chair of the group and is actively involved with bringing the Community Games programme to Hirst Park.

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Day 20 - Friday 7th June 2013

The event took place on a small field in the heart of the Dunn terrace estate in Byker.

From 3.30-5.30pm Children and young people will have an opportunity to participate in a 5-a-side football tournament, and also old-fashioned sports events, including egg and spoon races, sack races, three legged races and skipping. The Field is only small but a good place for families to meet as it's on their doorstep, surrounded by houses. Refreshments will be provided and young volunteers will help organise the afternoon’s activities.

Shining Light: Shannon Cambell

Shannon started attending The YMCA when she was 13 years old – a very shy young girl who just sat back and listened – she found it very difficult to participate in conversation although she loved to do practical work. Three years on, her confidence has grown and her commitment is beyond our expectations. She volunteers with one of our younger groups and is a role model for them. She also supports another group with workers from another YMCA project called Bizzibodies and has been a leading figure in our fundraising efforts. We value Shannon, who was lead by others and now is a leader herself, very highly, and although she sometimes still doubts her ability to succeed in life we know that with the commitment and determination she has shown over the last three years she certainly can.

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