Grants available to fund Olympic celebrations in Suffolk

Suffolk County Council has launched a small grants programme to enable town and parish councils and community groups to organise events to celebrate London 2012.

The County Council has launched the grants programme under the banner of Suffolk Celebrates.

It is specifically aimed at supporting town and parish councils, community groups and groups of individuals across Suffolk to organise events linked to either the Olympic Torch Relay, whilst it is in the county, Big Dance or the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games.

The Olympic Torch Relay will bring the Olympic flame within 30 minutes of everybody in the county as it visits 16 Suffolk towns and villages between 5- 7 July 2012. It will be greeted by celebrations as each community has its moment to shine.

Big Dance is the UK’s biggest ever celebration of dance and is a key part of the London 2012 Festival, the finale of the Cultural Olympiad. Suffolk Celebrates grants are aimed at encouraging groups to organise their own dance events during Big Dance Week (7-15 July 2012). Events can feature any dance style, for any age, anywhere in the county.

On the 27 July the London 2012 Opening Ceremony will be taking place. Suffolk Celebrates grants aims to support events that bring communities together to share in and celebrate this momentous occasion. 

Kathy Gosling, Suffolk County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Sport, Culture, Diversity, Health and Wellbeing said: “I would encourage organisations across the county to get involved and hold an event for their communities to enjoy.

“2012 will be an amazing year full of excitement. I hope that people will grasp this opportunity with both hands and help communities across Suffolk be part of this once in a lifetime event.”

Suffolk Celebrates aims to build on the success of the last two years when small grants were offered for events marking the start of the 2 year and 1 year countdown to the Games.  In total over 100 community events were supported involving an estimated 40,000 people and 2,000 volunteers.

Application forms are available for download below or by emailing denise.king@suffolk.gov.uk.