Britain’s most famous front door has been unlocked to young people as part of Olympic legacy project somewhereto_. 10 young people looking for somewhere to free run, perform spoken word and practice boxing were recently given free rein to use Number 10 Downing Street as a space to showcase their passions.
The incredible day was captured by somewhereto_’s cameras. Callum Harris (17) and Jack Curtis (20) from Accrington Stanley alongside Chima Akenzua (22) and Karol Michta (17) from London leaped over the grand staircase, past faces of Prime Ministers new and old, before back flipping through the hallway out to the garden. Boxers Wesley Washington (17) and Ryan Hutchings (16) from Royston made the most of the Pillared State Drawing Room’s open space, while Rubix Collective – Bridget Minamore (19), Deanna Rodger (22), Sean Mahoney (23) and Ayesha Badat (17) from London – bounced inspiring words across the State Dining Room. Catch a glimpse of the action for yourself by visiting www.youtube.com/somewheretochannel
Prime Minister David Cameron said: “somewhereto__ is a fantastic initiative to help young people find the space they need to develop their passions. This is a great example of the Big Society – connecting businesses that have space they can spare with people in their community who have a dream they can use it for.
“If 10 Downing Street can open its doors to something as adventurous as free running I hope it will inspire other people to see what their building could be used for.”
Wesley said: “My local boxing club [Welwyn Garden City Boxing Club] is closing down so I got in touch with somewhereto_ to find me the space to carry on practicing. The opportunity to train at Number 10 means so much to me and everyone at my club – hopefully with the help of somewhereto_ we’ll stay together as a club and keeping boxing in our lives.”
Sam Conniff, Chairman at Livity said: “The opening of the most famous door in Britain by the Prime Minister really captures the essence of somewhereto_, where imagination and young people’s passions can become the keys to open spaces and unlock potential.”
Funded by Legacy Trust UK, an independent charity set up to help build a lasting cultural and sporting legacy from the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games, somewhereto_ is a nationwide project to help young people find the space they need to do the things they love within sport, culture and the arts. somewhereto_ is run by Livity, a youth engagement agency, in partnership with Channel 4 Education.
