The Euro 2005 Legacy Programme is an FA and Sport England sponsored project which looks to develop opportunities for wider active participation through the tournament across six structured themes:

  • Football and sports development
  • Education
  • Health
  • Volunteers
  • Business and Tourism
  • Special projects

The programme is aimed primarily at the North West of England but also aims to engage participants from around the UK and from the participating nations. The Programme is managed by the David Taylor Partnerships in Preston, Lancashire and delivered through an energised network of teams around the North West.

Opportunities to get involved are wide ranging. In the core sport of football, tournaments and festivals are planned which would welcome guest teams from home and abroad. Dance and Cheerleading are featured as schemes that attract both girls and boys and lend themselves to educational projects to explore the cultures of competing nations. Educational materials are available to help schools use the tournament to work across the curriculum and a CD Rom ‘Football’s Coming Home’ provides a wealth of information on the tournament, players and participating countries. It also looks at the history of the game, how to get involved in sport and the health issues that are addressed by active participation.

Active participation is a recurring theme in the legacy programme, focal to both The FA’s and Sport England’s commitment to ‘Game Plan’, the government’s blue print to drive forward sport and recreational activity as a means of addressing key issues such as health, social deprivation and the skills agenda. A prime example of this is ‘Passport 2005 ‘, a rewards based activity scheme for young people. As evidence of participation in targeted activities, stamps are collected in individual passports and then exchanged for discounted tickets for Euro 2005.

The provision of Further and Higher Education in the North West is expansive across both academic and vocational programmes. The flagship project for this sector is the International Football Institute (a partnership between the UCLan and the National Football Museum) ’Women, Football and Europe’ Conference – 14-16 June 2005, that addresses academic, practical and social issues in women’s football.

The Euro 2005 Volunteer programme is managed by the Post Games Volunteer Programme, itself a legacy of the hugely successful Commonwealth Games 2002. Volunteers will be engaged in a tailored training programme, their skills needed in and around the Stadia ,in city centre venues, to assist with Legacy Programme events, to drive cars, park cars – in fact just about anything goes…Euro 2005 volunteers will be added to a the databank of NW Volunteers that supports the NWDA Regional Major Events Strategy.

Staging the tournament in England’s Northwest is a valuable opportunity for self promotion, not only for similar events but also for leisure and business activity. The NW is well served with transport links and, as a flavour of its attractions, boasts the highest mountain in England, the home of the Beatles, three Open Golf venues and a phone box standing on the dead centre of the United Kingdom. It has a vibrant business community and to celebrate the contribution that women have made to the economy of the North West, a ‘Women in Business’ lunch will be held on the Opening Day of Euro 2005 at the City of Manchester Stadium. Overseas delegates would be most welcome to attend.

Much to digest but hopefully something to appeal to everyone.

Don’t miss out - bring your boots!

If you would like to know more about the Euro 2005 Legacy programme contact either Kate Egford or Lesley Giddins on +441772 883888 or ke@dtp88.com or lg@dtp88.com