Suffolk Sport and Suffolk County Council has announced the launch of the Community Games initiative in Suffolk.

The Community Games programme aims to encourage communities to come together to take part in sporting and cultural activities inspired by, and in celebration of, the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

They are being billed as providing a wonderful and unique opportunity for communities from all backgrounds, right across the country, to celebrate the 2012 Games and by doing so enable thousands of people to experience and create their own Olympic or Paralympic moment.

It’s up to communities to organise their Games in a way that works for them and celebrates the uniqueness of their community.  The concept is flexible to allow events to take place indoors or outdoors, in a variety of settings from parks to community centres, and combine sporting and cultural activities. Some communities may choose to focus on contests to give their events a competitive element whilst others may want to focus on giving people the opportunity to try something new.

In Suffolk groups can access grants of upto £500 to run Community Games events before the end of September 2012. Volunteers must be central to the delivery of Community Games events but training and support packages are available.

Kathy Gosling, Suffolk County Council’s portfolio holder for Sport, Culture, Diversity, Health and Wellbeing said ‘Community Games is a fantastic example of our ambition to be the most active county in England. Working in partnership with Suffolk Sport to access help and support for local communities in delivering their Community Games is demonstrating our commitment to promote healthy and active lifestyles.’

Community Games started in the West Midlands as one of the major Legacy Trust UK programmes. Established in 2007, Legacy Trust UK’s mission is to support a wide range of innovative cultural and sporting activities for all, which celebrate the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and leave a lasting legacy in communities throughout the United Kingdom. Community Games is now a national programme supported by the Legacy Trust and the Cabinet Office through Big Society funding.

For more information visit: www.risingtothechallenge.org/sports_participation