The project has now been awaded the London 2012 Inspire Mark, following a hugely successful sports festival event hosted at the college in May, attended by special guest and Olympian Steve Cram. Inspired and driven by 2012, the project aimed to educate young people about the history and culture of the Olympic Games, whilst motivating them to be more physically active.

Using the 2012 Games as a catalyst, sports leaders from Loughborough College are working to increase the levels of physical activity in primary school children across the local area.

Charlie Watts, Loughborough College FESCo explains: “We recognise the wealth of opportunities presented to us by the 2012 Games and have decided that London 2012 is an ideal vehicle to get young children from the Charnwood area more physically active. It is also a perfect opportunity to create and leave a sustainable health legacy in the local community.”

Loughborough College sports leaders, who have completed the Community Sports Leadership Award (generally as part of their National Diploma in Sport), receive the British Heart Foundation’s Active Club Pack and associated training. This provides them with a range of fun and energetic activities for the children. The leaders then plan and deliver enjoyable Olympic themed sport and health programmes in local primary schools over a six week period.

In order to expand the scope of the project the children involved are educated on the history and culture of the Games. Each session is centred around an activity directly related to London 2012 and leaders facilitate discussions and encourage inquiring to reinforce the Olympic and Paralympic values.

To encourage the children to be more physically active, sports leaders monitor and acknowledge levels of activity through the use of the British Heart Foundation ‘Physical Activity Pocket Planners’. Additionally, children receive a ‘Get Kids on the Go’ booklet to take home to their parents with tips on how supporting their children to be more active.

The six week programme culminates in a celebration event at Loughborough College organised by the sports leaders and attended by all participating schools, a sports personality and the British Heart Foundation mascot, Hearty. As with any Olympic or Paralympic Games, this event includes an Opening and Closing ceremony, together with a whole range of Olympic sports and an torch relay using the College’s 1948 Olympic Torch.

Over 100 young leaders and 200 children have been involved in the pilot, with all the schools involved visiting Loughborough College's facilities in May 2009 to participate in the mini Olympics festival and celebrate the success fo the project. The resounding success of the Loughborough Flames pilot means that it will continue to be delivered until 2012 and beyond, involving many more young leaders and children.

For further information see Loughborough College's or the British Heart Foundation's Websites:

http://www.loucoll.ac.uk/news/news-detail.aspx?id=145

http://www.bhfactive.org.uk/downloads/Loughborough_Flames_2.pdf