Is your organisation using sport and physical activity to bring people together in London?
Over the next couple of weeks ConnectSport will announce the first recipient (for May) of its £250 monthly award from the ‘Stronger Communities through Sport’ video platform, developed in partnership with the Mayor of London’s Office.
Community groups and organisations across the capital city have been submitting their short videos to demonstrate how they are using sport to bring people together. Submit your video here.
The platform aims to showcase how sport is being used to improve social integration. This can include working across cultures, faiths or generations, or encouraging isolated individuals and newcomers to come together and support each other.
The monthly award is currently only open to community-based organisations located in London, but ConnectSport is seeking partners to open this type of campaign to the rest of the UK. Contact hello@connectsport.co.uk for more details.
Simon Lansley, from ConnectSport, said: “We have been bowled over by the videos which have been submitted already.
“Whether it’s Carney’s Community using boxing to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in Wandsworth and Lambeth, or PlayPlace Innov8 CIC’s amazing motorsports programme in Croydon and Chance to Shine’s work in state schools across the capital.
“Dallaglio Rugby Works and Saracens Sport Foundation have shown us how they are using rugby-related programmes to improve the life chances of young people who need our support, while Rackets Cubed is using tennis and squash to support its integrated education scheme.
“Barking and Dagenham is amongst the highest rate of teen pregnancies, so Skates Dagenham uses rollerskating as an affordable and enjoyable intervention to effectively engage with teenage girls.
“London Otters is an inclusive rowing club which aims to break down some of the barriers that prevent LGBTQ+ individuals from getting involved in sport, and Muslimah Sports Foundation provides sporting and empowerment opportunities to Muslim and BAME women.
“We are really enjoying finding out more about these amazing projects and people, and encourage any community-based organisations to submit your videos and show us what you are doing!”
Videos can be created using a smartphone, or why not send us one of your existing short films? Ideally they should not be longer than around 90 seconds.
When recording your video, remember to explain what your organisation is, what it does, why, where and when.
The platform is part of the ‘Sport Unites’ programme which aims to achieve the Mayor’s vision for London to be the first city to maximise the potential of sport to help us connect with others who are different from ourselves.
Related news: Deputy Mayor - How sport can unite our communities.
