‘The Wombourne Games’- Our Vision

2012 is a once in a lifetime event for our country.  We are hosting the Olympic Games.  To celebrate this fantastic event Wombourne is to host its own ‘Olympic’ style games over the weekend 13-14 July 2012.  It will be called  ‘The Wombourne Games’

We want the whole community to get involved in not just Sport but also games and activities. 

We want people of ALL ages and abilities to get involved.  It doesn’t matter if you think you are no good it really is the taking part that matters.  This may encourage you to get involved with a club or participate in a pastime that you had never thought you could do?

The Wombourne Games itself will cover traditional sports such as athletics, football, cricket and swimming.  There will also be other activities for the less well abled.  Also on offer will be table tennis, netball, pool, darts, fishing, bowling, and many other sports  We will also be showcasing other activities such as martial arts, fitness, Archery, American football, dance and the Arts.

There will be competition and Gold, Silver and Bronze medals will be awarded to successful participants.  There will be competitive events for young and old.  We truly want everyone to take part!

The Legacy – during the London 2012 bid great emphasis was laid about the Olympic legacy not just for London but for the rest of the country.  We want to leave our own legacy and improve and enhance the sports facilities in Wombourne. 

We will raise money via fund raising events, sponsorship and grants so that we can improve these sporting facilities..  All money raised will be spent on Community Facilities.  It is very ambitious but with the help of everyone we can go a long way to achieving Our Vision of getting more people playing sport and leaving the community of Wombourne with truly great Sports facilities that can be used by everyone!

www.wombournegames.co.uk

Friday 13^th evening – Wombourne games Swmming gala event in the Leisure centre

Saturday 14^th the Wombourne Games event including opening and closing ceremonies involving the local schools.

It will be a true community event for everyone!

Diamond Jubilee Celebrations!

Light a Lantern

 

To further spread the Paralympic Flame LOCOG (The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games) will be encouraging individuals, communities and organisations to ‘put their flame on the map’ by hosting a lantern themed event.

At the core of these events is the idea of creating visual displays using light/lanterns to be captured in photos and added to an interactive map showing all the flame activity over the August Bank Holiday weekend. Light a Lantern will be promoted both through the Paralympic Torch Relay and Local Leaders.   

 Lantern events should take place on the day their national flame is lit (in England this is on Friday 24^th August) with a lighting moment at around 8.30pm across the country.

 For more information and inspiration please visit the Local Leader website; http://www.london2012.com/get-involved/local-leaders/lantern-festival/ where you will soon be able to get your hands on a ‘Light a Lantern’ toolkit including;

• How to make a lantern at home pdf template (including lanterns in the shape of the Paralympic Torch)
• Blue Peter-esque film showing how to make lanterns
• Case studies of how individuals and organisations (e.g. some festival projects) intend to celebrate Light a Lantern to offer inspiration to communities looking to plan events

If you are planning to organise a ‘Light a Lantern’ event Get Together South Staffordshire would love to hear about it. We would also be more than happy to help you promote it by adding it to our calendar of events on this blog! Contact Carly@liveandlocal.org.uk

Funding available to help communities celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee, Olympic and Paralympic Games

Community groups from South Staffordshire can apply for funding from South Staffordshire Council’s Small Grants Scheme to support local events celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, Olympic and Paralymic Games. To download the application form and criteria please visit our funding opportunities page. The deadline for submissions is Wednesday 14th March.

If you would like to discuss your application please contact Live & Local on 01926 402173 or email carly@liveandlocal.org.uk

National and regional preparations for Queen Elizabeth’s 2012 Diamond Jubilee

Exciting preparations are already being made for Queen Elizabeth’s 2012 Diamond Jubilee.

The fourth annual Big Lunch falls on the same weekend, so neighbourhoods and communities nationwide are being asked to celebrate the Queen’s 60 year reign by planning a Big Jubilee Lunch in their area.

On 3^rd June, the Thames will be bought to life with boats, bells, hustle and bustle to mark this historic occasion. Up to one thousand boats will float on the Thames for the Diamond Jubilee Pageant.

The BBC will be broadcasting the Jubilee concert from Buckingham Palace on June 4^th featuring British and Commonwealth musicians.

More locally, The Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh will mark the Diamond Jubilee with visits and engagements throughout the UK, with a trip to West Midlands on the 11^th-12^th July.

Coventry Cathedral is preparing to host a number of exciting events to celebrate the Jubilee and the landmark 50^th anniversary. Click here for more information.

Specially painted Jubilee double decker buses will be carting the crowds in Birmingham to Aston Hall for the Big Bonanza Book Bash on 3^rd June. Patsy Heap, Birmingham Libraries’ Head of Children, Youth & Education, said: “The Book Bash is a fantastic event for children and young people and is packed with performances from writers, poets and storytellers. This shuttle bus service will give families the chance to experience this part of the festival first hand.”

In Stafford an exhibition about Stafford’s Royal Connections will be shown in the Ancient High House. And Gladstone Pottery Museum in Stoke-on-Trent will be transporting visitors back in time to the height of the British Empire, a special event will try and recapture the commemorative spirit of the Victorian celebrations.

If you know of any local events being prepared in support of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee or if you are planning to organise an event yourself then we would love to hear about it! Tell us details of your ideas on this blog and keep looking to see what everyone else is up to!

Top 10 planning tips for your celebration

The London 2012 Local Leaders website has these ‘Top 10 Tips’ to help you to plan your event to celebrate the 2012 Olympic Games:

1. Choose an occasion (or a few!)

Check out our calendar for the key dates and choose an occasion for your Games activities. Is the Olympic Torch coming to a town near you? Will you get everyone over for the 100m final?

2. Choose a theme

What’s your twist? Local Leaders have some suggestions of how you could celebrate, from gardening to quizzes, but you could do anything. Get creative, make it a day or night to remember.

3. Naming your event 

You want people to know that you are holding this event to celebrate the Games but you need to be careful how you word this and what supporting imagery you use to show it. For example, you may say something like, ‘[Town] Scouts Jamboree Celebrating the Games’. But you may not say, ‘[Town] Scouts Olympic Jamboree’.

4. Location

You know what you want to do but where will you do it? Your kitchen? Front garden? Or ask the local community centre, school or pub if you can use their space for your shindig.

5. Get your team together

Got big plans? Why not divide and conquer? Get some friends to help with different areas. It’s more fun to party plan with others.

6. Getting people there

Text, tweet, Facebook. Word spreads fast online. Or use snail mail, if you want to make impactful, pretty invitations.

7. Be social

Tweet your celebration updates @london2012 Remember to include #LocalLeader in your tweets.

8. Put the spotlight on your event

Like attention? Think about how you might make your event unique so you get covered by local media. Call your local paper or TV station to see if they will come along and do a story or take some great pictures and send them off afterwards. Tips to make your celebration newsworthy: make your event one of a kind or try and break a world record.

9. Be sustainable

Respect the environment and your local area.

10. Legal matters

Make sure everything is safe and legal. Always follow the Local Leaders’ Charter and check with your local authority on what licenses you need.

Please note that all information here is intended as guidance only, and should not be taken as legal advice. If you are in doubt, please check with your local authority.

For more information and advice visit the London 2012 Local Leaders website.

Start planning your Get Together

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, Olympic and Paralymic Games provide an ideal opportunity to get something happening in your community and join in the celebrations!

How about screening a blockbuster film in your village hall or promoting a concert in your church? Organising a community event is a great way to get local people together and bring a renewed vitality to your town or village.

There are all kinds of ways to celebrate: sporting competitions, village quizzes, fetes and festivals, professional performance, community picnics - the possibilities are endless!