Team GB Olympians Give Back to Their Communities
August 16, 2024
Team Great Britain (GB), ParalympicsGB and UK Sport have teamed up with the UK's National Lottery on The ChangeMakers initiative. The initiative will help Olympic and Paralympic athletes support long-term change in their communities following their Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games competitions.
"When our athletes take to the field of play at this year’s Games, they will inspire those watching, both at home and in the stands, through the unifying power of sport. Following the Games, we will support our athletes to continue this impact through their direct support of community programs that mean the most to them," states the campaign website.
Athletes chose the social impact project they wished to support before the Games, including grassroots projects, mental health initiatives and environmental programs. In the immediate two weeks following Paris 2024, the partners will match athletes with projects that resonate with them personally including with schools, community groups, sports clubs and other local causes.
These initiatives will be linked to programs such as Get Set, which engages youth to learn and live the Olympic and Paralympic values, and initiatives delivered by charity partners Street Games and Young Minds. To support athletes further, The National Lottery will provide them with the funds to help them positively impact lives, removing barriers to delivery and ensuring the ChangeMakers program reaches those in need.
The campaign is made possible by the new operator of The National Lottery, Allwyn, which has pledged to make a difference through its annual £1m Social Value Fund.
UK Sport states that 86% of funded athletes want to use their platform to make a difference in society while they’re still competing. Additionally, 66% of UK adults believe athletes have a role to play in championing the causes they believe in.
“This has been driven by the athletes themselves,” said Dame Katherine Grainger, UK Sport Chair. “We have an amazing group of athletes who believe in what they do and have huge ambitions, but they want to feel that what they do has a bigger impact beyond their own success. They want to see that the success they’ve had can be magnified in communities.”
Just hours after returning from Paris, Team GB medalists including Lola Anderson (rower), Lewis Richardson (boxer) and Joe Clarke (canoeist) visited the North Paddington Youth Club. The Club serves the local community through a range of sporting activities like climbing, horse riding and football. Additionally, gold medalist cyclists Katy Marchant and Sophie Capewell joined forces with non-profit Manchester Bike Kitchen in Hyde, which promotes bike-riding as a way to improve physical and mental health. Throughout the coming weeks, more community visits and initiatives like this will take place across the UK, with athletes getting involved and championing community activity.
“We will be able to give back to the communities that we are from, like mine in Nottingham... As athletes we put our heart and soul into representing our nation to make everyone proud,” said Olympic weightlifter Emily Campbell. “I want to use my voice to empower more children and young women specifically, to be strong, healthy and confident by having positive conversations about body image and tackling outdated opinions around female appearance and health.”