Personal Best Programme

Personal Best is a five-year programme aimed at engaging with 20,000 individuals, from the most deprived boroughs of London. The London Development Agency is leading on the Programme and working in partnership with Learning and Skills Council (LSC); Jobcentre plus (JCP); Greater London Authority (GLA) and supported by London 2012.

The 2012 Games will involve over 25 different sports held at over 25 venues in the Capital, of which three will be in Greenwich borough: Greenwich Park, Royal Arsenal Barracks and The O2. The Games will require up to 70,000 volunteers. All Personal Best graduates that apply to be London 2012 Games Time Volunteers will be guaranteed an interview. LOCOG have agreed that 10% of the London 2012 Volunteers for the Olympic and Paralympic Games will be recruited from the National Personal Best Programme. The type of volunteering roles anticipated include:

• Providing visitor information
• stewarding and ushering
• Supporting athletes in the Olympic Village - language
• Setting up and clearing away after events
• Supporting medal ceremonies

The Personal Best Programme is looking to interact with people furthest from the labour market and is a new engagement and training programme developed specifically for this group. Those who complete it will achieve:

• A nationally accredited qualification up to level 2
• An enhanced opportunity to become a 'London 2012 Volunteer'
• A chance to gain new skills and experience that will help to move them closer to Volunteering, further training or employment.

Individuals will be able to get involved immediately in voluntary work in their own community, London Leisure College is delivering the training element of the Personal Best Programme which will address the key skills essential to event volunteering. We have two programmes about to start in May and June 2008 and are taking registrations now. GLLaB has appointed a dedicated Personal Best Programme Co-ordinator, Maxine Graversen, who can be contacted on Tel: 020 8312 7987 for more information. You can also register with the programme by contacting Lyn Asquith-Brown, Personal Best Support and Liaison Officer, at Volunteer Centre Greenwich, on 020 8853 1331.