The Project
This guide is a cSPACE initiative being developed by young people for visitors to the 2012 London Olympics and beyond. Teenagers have drawn on their local expertise to identify what is best in their communities, which is also unique, exciting and accessible for the 11-19 age group. Participants are demonstrating knowledge and pride in their local neighbourhoods and out of this creating a real resource for an age group often overlooked in visitor information. They have learned new media skills while playing a collaborative role in the development of a unique resource. Through contributing to a professional output, young people have gained in confidence and self-esteem while becoming further informed about their own locality and the changing local landscape. Professional photographers and artists have supported the young people, helping them to produce images and text that describe what they feel is good and to be shared about their local area. Teachers and youth leaders have been supported their students in workshops and site visits, assisted by undergraduates from the University of East London.
The guide is intended to offer substantial information to visitors in 2012, while also providing a sustainable resource for local use. The project builds on recent work carried out by cSPACE during 2005-7 with young people in South Newham, which resulted in a Young Person’s Guide to the Royal Docks, launched at the Museum in Docklands in 2007 and viewable at www.ypg2rd.org. This former project has enabled the development of a production process that can now be used for implementation over a wider geographical area.
As part of the London 2012 Open Weekend in 2010, the University of East London supported cSPACE to develop the Guide to include young people's views of the Olympic Park and extend the capability of the site to include comments and responses from young people around the world. As the Park is completed and then the Games themselves take place, cSPACE is planning further projects so that young people anywhere can interact with the observations and insights of East London's young people about the place and the whole 2012 phenomenon.
The following groups have contributed to this guide
Asta Centre
Beckton Globe Youth Zone
BSiX Sixth Form College
Forest Gate Community School
George Mitchell School
Kemnal Technology College - GCSE Photography
Leyton Sixth Form College
New Directions Pupil Referral Unit
Newham Youth Offending Team Twilight Football Club
NewVIc Sixth Form College
Peacock Gym Academy
Roma Support Group
Royal Docks Community School
St. Paul's Way Trust School
Sir George Monoux College
The Soul Project
Thomas Tallis School
Tower Project
Design and site construction
Henry Iles & Associates
Designition Ltd
cSPACE would like to thank the following for their generous donations that have supported the development of this project
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Olympic Lottery Distributor
This organisation has been awarded a Transformers grant, funded by the National Lottery through the Olympic Lottery Distributor and managed by ELBA.
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