Community groups across Eden are busy planning their Diamond Jubilee and Olympic Torch Relay (OTR) events and these special occasions are being supported by Eden District’s Community Fund.
Councillor Mary Robinson, Eden District Council’s Deputy Leader and Communities Portfolio Holder said: “I am delighted that so many local groups have been successful in applying to the Community Fund for grants to support their Diamond Jubilee and OTR events.
“The range of activities we are supporting alongside community input is wide ranging from the planting of a Jubilee Orchard at Brough to supporting Age UK to hold Day Care Olympics. June will undoubtedly be a very memorable and lively month in Eden. I hope that communities will build on the success of these events and work together in the future to develop and deliver more projects that benefit their local areas and the District as a whole. ”
Brough, Appleby and Penrith have all received support from the Community Fund and extensive support from the Council’s officers to help welcome and celebrate the OTR coming to their areas. It is hoped the support provided will raise the profile of sport and keeping active in Eden. This coincides with a new contractor taking over Eden’s Leisure Centres and significant improvements that will be made to the facilities over the summer.
One of the organisations benefitting from a Community Fund Grant is Langwathby Primary School, where teacher Julie Labbett is an Olympic Torch Bearer for Penrith. The Community Funding is being used to help transport the school’s 154 pupils into Penrith in classic coaches to watch Julia carry the Torch on this once in a lifetime occasion.
Headteacher of Langwathby Primary School, Lesley Birtwell, said: “We are very excited to be giving the children to chance to be part of history in a historic way, as one of the buses being used to transport the children to Penrithwas built in 1948, when the Olympics was last in London. We are very proud that Julie Labbett is an Olympic Torch Bearer, she is very proactive in providing sports within the school.”
Julie Labbett was nominated to be Torch Bearer nominated as a Torch Bearer because as a teacher in a small rural primary school, Julie makes a real difference to the children of the local community by striving to make sport a priority. She gives up her own time to run many after school clubs: Tri Golf, Mountain Biking, Multisports, Netball and Cricket to name but a few!
Julie has sought ways to overcome transport difficulties in order that children can participate in competitions and is now bringing the Olympics to life in school, planning Olympic themed events to inspire and motivate the kids. Although the school is 100's of miles away from London Julie is determined to bring the excitement of the Games a little closer to home for the kids in this rural community.
OTR events are happening in Brough, Appleby and Penrith on 20 June, details below:
Brough
Pre Torch Relay activities:
OTR times:
Post Torch Relay activities
Road Closure in place 15:00-17:00 hours
For more event information email: leisure@eden.gov.uk telephone: 01768 817817.
Appleby
Pre Torch Relay activities from 15:30:
OTR times:
Post Torch Relay activities
Road Closure in place 15:15-18:00 hours – see Council website for details.
For more event information leisure@eden.gov.uk telephone: 01768 817817
Penrith
Pre Torch Relay activities:
-
Town centre activities include a BMX display team, a climbing wall, a street market and demonstration events by local sports clubs and an exhibition of Olympic Sporting Memorabilia at Penrith and Eden Museum.
OTR times:
Post Torch Relay activities
Road Closure in place 16:00-19:00 hours.
For more event information contact: leisure@eden.gov.uk or tel: 01768 817817.
The Community Fund is also supporting 28 Diamond Jubilee events across Eden with an array of activities taking place in rural areas and Eden towns. Part of the activities supported by the Community Fund include Jubilee events at St Andrew’s Church in Penrith, with the following activities taking place:
Sunday 3 June - Large screening of the Diamond Jubilee Pageant from London in the church, followed at 7pm by an Ecumenical Civic Thanksgiving Service for the Queen’s Service to the UK and Commonwealth, which a wide range of community groups taking part. Refreshments are being provided. Before the service a parade by the Royal British Legion is taking place from the Town Hall to St Andrews Church.
Sunday 3 June - Big Lunch Campaign - St Andrews Church is hoping to host a Big Lunch Event on this date, as part of the national campaign, but support from willing sponsors is needed to make the event a success. For more information contact: town.centre@eden.gov.uk
Monday 4 June – 7pm-10pm Diamond Jubilee Party/Church Tower Beacon Lighting – St Andrews is joining in the Beacon lighting events taking place across the UK and Commonwealth to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The church’s tower will be lighted up from 10.20pm. Before this, a party is taking place with a satellite broadcasting the Diamond Jubilee pop concert onto a big screen in the Church. Tickets for the party are free contact town.centre@eden.gov.uk to reserve your place.
Monday 4 June – 2pm-5pm Family Fun Day at Christ Church Penrith.
To get in the Diamond Jubilee Spirit, Eden Arts are organising an exhibition of commemorative Royal memorabilia in the Soup Shop at Penrith’s Devonshire Arcade. If you have Royal Memorabilia you would like to exhibit contact Eden Arts tel: 01768 899444 before 18 May.
Eden Arts are looking for fabric donations and finished fabric triangles to help make the bunting. A bunting making template is available on the Eden Arts website or from the Eden Arts office in Sandgate. Eden Arts are running free bunting making workshops which local people are encouraged to attend. Fabric and bunting donations can also be handed in at these workshops, which will take place 11-4pm on 23 and 30 May in The Soup Shop, Devonshire Arcade, Penrith. For full details of how to get involved visit www.edenarts.co.uk or contact Eden Arts: joanne@edenarts.co.uk, telephone: 01768 899444.
The deadline for the next round of Community fund applications is 14 September 2012 for more information visit www.eden.gov.uk/communityfund
ENDS
Notes to Editors
For more information contact the Communication Officer at Eden District Council tel: 01768 212137.
