A bracing way to get inspired
A Scarborough project is hoping to confound the recent bad weather and get thousands swimming in the sea as part of a unique cultural programme inspired by the Games.
Throughout the summer, Sea Swim, a partnership between imove, artists John Wedgwood Clarke and Lara Goodband and Scarborough Borough Council, are celebrating the creative inspiration that a bracing dip can bring.
The club is open to anyone: just pop along to Scarborough’s South Bay and find the Sea Swim HQ – a pair of beach huts transformed into mini-galleries, bursting with the artworks created by club members.
Club members join in regular swims, share their stories and create works of art. Carol Ann Duffy, The Poet Laureate, and Patron of Sea Swim said: “I am thrilled to be patron of this beautifully simple and simply beautiful idea. Poetry is going down to the sea again”’
tagged ##community benefits #Cultural Olympiad #yorkshire
Leeds girls given a sporting chance
As the torch arrives in Leeds today the city has another reason to celebrate, with one of its grassroots legacy projects honoured as the best in Yorkshire.
Based in Killingbeck, The Beck was nominated for the Sportivate award for reaching young girls – many from difficult backgrounds – and encouraging them to get into sport.
Natalie Stevenson, 17, has attended regular sessions and now volunteers in her spare time. She commented:
“It has helped to keep me out of a lot of trouble and helped me to get through school.”
Local health and support development officer Alison Spaul said:
“Often the young people are from disadvantaged backgrounds and these events help them take part in sport for free. A lot of them don’t do sporting activities because many of them don’t get to try. It gives them something positive to do as well as keeping them off the streets and safe.”
Sportivate is a nationwide programme giving 14-25 year olds the chance to find a sport they enjoy. Almost 10,000 youngsters across Yorkshire have now benefited from Sportivate.
