Who We Were
The Big Opportunity was the voice of London’s voluntary and community sector on all issues relating to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and their legacy. Our steering group included many of London’s leading voluntary sector organisations. The wider Big Opportunity network represented 1.5 million Londoners through more than 800 organisations. We brought together the public, private and voluntary sectors to try and ensure that the Games were inspirational, inclusive and leave a lasting sustainable legacy. We did this by working with and lobbying national, regional and local government as well as the London 2012 agencies.
What We Did
Information
We helped organisations by sharing best practice, brokering partnerships and ensuring that they had the right information. We did this by:
We acted as an advocate for the wider civil society with London 2012 agencies, the GLA, NHS and London’s 33 local authorities on matters associated with the Games and their legacy.
Legacy
We worked with the Olympic Park Legacy Company and the five Host Boroughs of; Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Greenwich, Waltham Forest and Newham as well as the Olympic Park Legacy Company to ensure that the voluntary and community sector were consulted and listened to in the planning for a sustainable legacy.
We helped organisations by sharing best practice, brokering partnerships and ensuring that they had the right information. We did this by:
- A free phone line at 0844 856 3420
- This website
- The Big Opportunity Facebook group
- Free or subsidised public events
- The Big Opportunity Programme Manager works with the volountary sector and wider civil society.
We acted as an advocate for the wider civil society with London 2012 agencies, the GLA, NHS and London’s 33 local authorities on matters associated with the Games and their legacy.
Legacy
We worked with the Olympic Park Legacy Company and the five Host Boroughs of; Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Greenwich, Waltham Forest and Newham as well as the Olympic Park Legacy Company to ensure that the voluntary and community sector were consulted and listened to in the planning for a sustainable legacy.
What We Believe
The Big Opportunity believes that all agencies must deliver on the promise made by Lord Coe to the International Olympic Committee that the London Games would leave a lasting social and physical legacy. To be successful, we believe that the Games must not only be inspirational but also inclusive and sustainable. Anything less will not represent success.
The Big Opportunity believes that we can only achieve these shared objectives if the voluntary and community sector and all of London’s communities are fully engaged in the delivery of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the planning for a lasting legacy.
The Big Opportunity believes that we can only achieve these shared objectives if the voluntary and community sector and all of London’s communities are fully engaged in the delivery of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the planning for a lasting legacy.
The Big Opportunity Manifesto & Logo
If you would like a copy of the Big Opportunity manifesto or would like to use our logo for non-commercial purposes please e-mail
thebigopportunity@londoncivicforum.org.uk
Use of the logo is free of charge but is subject to signing a licencing agreement.
thebigopportunity@londoncivicforum.org.uk
Use of the logo is free of charge but is subject to signing a licencing agreement.
Steering Group Membership
Aston Mansfield
AgeUK - London
BNRRN
Citizens Advice Service
East London CVS Network
East London Small Business Centre
Greater London Volunteering
Interactive - Disability Equality in Sport
London Civic Forum
London Community Resource Network
London Federation of Sport and Recreation
London Voluntary Service Council
London Youth
Media Trust
Planning Aid for London
Royal College of Nursing-London
Shelter
St John Ambulance
Skills Active
Social Enterprise London
Toynbee Hall (Chair)
The Big Opportunity is funded by The City Bridge Trust and managed by London Civic Forum.
AgeUK - London
BNRRN
Citizens Advice Service
East London CVS Network
East London Small Business Centre
Greater London Volunteering
Interactive - Disability Equality in Sport
London Civic Forum
London Community Resource Network
London Federation of Sport and Recreation
London Voluntary Service Council
London Youth
Media Trust
Planning Aid for London
Royal College of Nursing-London
Shelter
St John Ambulance
Skills Active
Social Enterprise London
Toynbee Hall (Chair)
The Big Opportunity is funded by The City Bridge Trust and managed by London Civic Forum.
