Spirit of 2012 announces UK Youth as delivery partner for a £1.7m funding opportunity for young people throughout 2022

Spirit of 2012, the London 2012 Games legacy funder has today announced that it will partner with UK Youth to deliver its flagship tenth anniversary funding programme, Inspire 2022. The exciting, new £1.7m programme, called Inspire 2022 will launch in the new year. It is funded by £1.2m from Spirit of 2012 and £500,000 from the #iwill Fund, (a joint investment between The National Lottery Community Fund and Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport), and designed in partnership with Local Trust.

The inspiration behind Inspire 2022 is the tenth anniversary of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games where a promise was made to Inspire a Generation and the multiple national and international events which will take place next year. It is designed to be a flexible programme of youth-led social action and community events across the UK, putting young people in the driving seat, but with laser-sharp focus on the needs of the whole community.

With grant funding, young people will be supported to work with their community to research, plan organise, promote and deliver events which respond to community needs, and leave a legacy of skills and knowledge for future social action.

Ruth Hollis, CEO, Spirit of 2012 said: “We are delighted that UK Youth has come on board as our delivery partner. Not only do they have a first-class track record in co-creating programmes with young people, but we share a vision of young people being agents of change in, and for, their communities. The excitement and positivity generated by the planned events are an opportunity to put young people at the heart of their communities, supported by £1.7m of funding, to create local community events and plug them into what will be an exceptional year of celebration and commemoration across the UK.”

Ndidi Okezie, CEO, UK Youth said: “It’s an honour for UK Youth to be chosen to deliver this innovative programme, as we look to inspire and empower young people across the UK from all backgrounds to use their voices and address very real needs in their communities. By bringing together a unique network of nation partners, local organisations, event organisers and specialist training partners, Inspire 2022 will create a lasting impact through social action. This programme will not just benefit young people but create hubs around the country to support vital inter-generational engagement, challenge current perceptions and help to reconnect local communities.”

Matt Leach, Chief Executive, Local Trust said: “The past two years has shown us just how powerful young people can be in calling for and creating change. That’s why we’re excited to be part of Inspire 2022 and are really pleased that UK Youth have been appointed to deliver it. This funding will give young people in communities across the country the chance to make their creative ideas a reality, and bring people together to celebrate what they love about where they live, building relationships and connections that will help their neighbourhoods thrive long into the future.”

The #iwill Fund is a £54 million joint investment between The National Lottery Community Fund and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS). Spirit of 2012 is acting as a match funder and awarding grants on behalf of the #iwill Fund. The #iwill Fund supports young people to access high quality social action opportunities.

Helen Whyman, Head of the #iwill Fund, said: “Thanks to National Lottery players and Government funding, we are able to support this incredible initiative, which places young people at the forefront and empowers them to design and deliver youth-led community events.

“2022 will be a momentous year for our country, full of key, celebratory moments, and it is only right that young people are at the heart of it. Through using their voices and ideas, young people will create events for their peers and their communities to enjoy, supporting them and their communities to prosper and thrive and leaving a lasting legacy for years to come.”