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Legacy Trust UK has been named as the preferred candidate
to establish a new £40 million fund to be spent in the
promotion of cultural and sporting activities in the run up
the 2012 Olympic Games.
When it is established next year, Legacy Trust UK will
receive £34 million from the National Lottery and
£6 million from the Exchequer to spend on a range
of projects. The priorities for the cash sum include: promoting
Olympic ideals; fostering innovation and creativity; strengthening
the UK’s creative and technical skills base; encouraging
a joined-up approach to sport, physical activity culture
and education; offering young people and communities the
chance to participate in the 2012 games; and leaving a lasting
positive legacy for future generations.
The selection was made by the Millennium Commission, the
Department for Culture Media and Sport, the Big Lottery
Fund and Arts Council England. The Legacy Trust UK consortium
comprises the City of London, Business in the Community,
the East London Business Alliance TimeBank and Yorkshire
Forward.
Richard Caborn, chair of the Millennium Commission and
Minister for Sport, said: “The Millennium Commission’s
last act as a National Lottery distributor will be to help
lay the foundations of a nationwide programme of cultural
and sporting endeavour.
“The creation of a new charitable trust offers the
greatest potential for the funding to be used in imaginative
and innovative ways to make a real difference to communities
throughout the UK,” he added.
Paul Deighton, chief executive of the committee responsible
for organising the 2012 games, said: “We want to stage
an inspirational games, and want the whole country to participate.
This initiative will fund imaginative projects throughout
the UK and help create a lasting cultural and sporting legacy.”
The group beat off competition from 10 other bidders who
all submitted proposals setting out their vision for the
trust. It must now put together a detailed application for
the grant for consideration by the funders, with the aim
to set up the trust early next year.
It is hoped that, once in place, Legacy Trust UK will fund
the UK School Games, to be held in Coventry in 2007. Other
cities are already bidding to host the games between 2007
and 2011.
Details of the Legacy Trust UK grant programme will appear
on its website shortly.
Visit www.legacytrustuk.org
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