With six months to go until the start of the 2012 Olympic Games, another Rochford District Council project has been awarded the prestigious Inspire Mark – the badge of the London 2012 Inspire Programme.

Rochford’s Active Plus Games project has been given the accolade by the London 2012 Inspire programme which recognises innovative and exceptional projects that are directly inspired by the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Active Plus Games aim to encourage residents in both the Rochford District and Castle Point areas who are aged 50 plus to take part in sport and physical activity, by providing them with a voucher allowing them to take part in five activities completely free of charge.

Already more than 150 people have signed up and can use their vouchers for a variety of activities including swimming at Clements Hall, playing tennis at The Deanes Sports Centre or a Fit for Life session in Hullbridge or Great Wakering.

Anyone aged 50 plus who lives in either the Rochford District or the Castle Point Borough is welcome to join in and can get more information by calling Sports Development Officer, Mark Aldous on 01702 318121 or by email mark.aldous@rochford.gov.uk

The Active Plus Games are a partnership between activerochford, activecastlepoint and Essex County Council’s 2012 Legacy Team.

It’s the fifth project Rochford District Council is involved with which has earned the Inspire Mark. Last year, the Council’s Dreams and Memories project, which recorded local people’s Olympic and Paralympic memories and hopes for 2012 for use in a national archive, also gained recognition. Walking Your Way to the Games, Sparks Will Fly and SX Urban Games have also gained the accolade.

Rochford District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Tourism, Heritage, the Arts, Culture and Business, Councillor Keith Gordon, said: “It’s a privilege for another Rochford District Council project to have gained this level of recognition. With the Olympics only months away we want to involve as many people in our community as possible in the projects we are working on to promote the Games.

If you are over 50 years old and live in either the Rochford District or Castle Point Borough and want to get involved then please don’t hesitate to get in touch, we look forward to hearing from you and getting more people involved in the Active Plus Games.”