Hackney Council’s newly recruited 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Youth Ambassadors began their training in earnest last week (Thursday 13th January) by listening to presentations about the forthcoming 2012 Olympic Games.

Hackney’s 30 new Youth Ambassadors were given presentations by Senior 2012 Youth Ambassadors on the relevance of the Olympic Delivery Authority and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).

The new recruits also took part in a series of getting-to-know-you sessions and elected some members to document their ‘Olympic journey’ via monthly blogs and photographs for the young hackney website.

Throughout 2011 and 2012 the 2012 Youth Ambassadors will be working within the community to inform all young people in Hackney about 2012 related activities in the areas of education, sport, culture, training, employment and volunteering each year up to 2012. They will also ensure young people are able to influence decision-making around 2012 related activities or developments.

The newly recruited 2012 Youth Ambassadors were selected last month from 85 applicants following a three stage recruitment process which included an application form, interviews by senior 2012 Youth Ambassadors and an Olympic-themed team exercise.

Young people from 12 schools in the borough took part in the application process and young people were also nominated by Hackney Youth Service, youth offending & support teams and voluntary services.

The application process was run by Hackney Council Youth Service with support from the Council’s 2012 unit.

Cllr Guy Nicholson, Hackney Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration and 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, said: “Congratulations to all the new Youth Ambassadors, a great new team to carry on the fantastic work that the previous Ambassadors have been doing across our Borough.

“It is through all their commitment and hard work that the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games are brought to life for those of us living and working in Hackney.”

Mercy Maxxie Brown, one of the newly selected 2012 Youth Ambassadors, said: "To be chosen out of 85 applicants is truly amazing as I feel great being part of something that is spectacular and widely acknowledged internationally.

"I hope to achieve better communication skills and hope my journey as a youth ambassador will be fun and interesting."

The latest 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Youth Ambassadors will have a wide range of responsibilities and duties, including:

• Enabling young people to participate in consultation and scrutiny

with respect to 2012 related activity in Hackney.


• Communicating with young people about opportunities and activities

related to 2012.


• Facilitate Hackney Personal Best sessions in youth clubs and attend

community events, to ensure increased participation amongst young

people in sports and physical activity.


• Ensure 2012 related events are relevant for young people, by

involving young people in the planning, delivery and evaluation.


• Represent the Council at external 2012 Olympic events.


• Support Schools at the Heart project to ensure that all Hackney

schools are signed up to the get set network which offers free

tickets for students.


• Signpost training and employment opportunities for young people that

are identified by relevant Olympic Body.


For more information about Hackney’s 2012 Youth Ambassadors or to find out more about the opportunities on offer for young people in the run up to the 2012 Games, please visit: http://www.younghackney.org/organisations/volunteering.php