Ready, Steady… Go! London launches Social Innovation Competition
By Lauren Ivory • Feb 1st, 2010 • Category: Features
The Go London Social Innovation Competition is a call for ideas to get Londoners more physically active. Great ideas can come from anywhere and we’re after either existing or entirely new and innovative bright sparks.
Today we’re excited to announce the launch of the Go London Social Innovation Competition, led by NHS London in partnership with the Greater London Authority and Transport for London.
And what better time for this project. Not only is it a New Year (more accurately, a new Decade) but also we’re well into the official countdown to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games right here in London, an event that will both inspire and motivate the city. And we hope to capture and catalyse some of that excitement in the build up to the games.
How does it work?
We’re keen to keep things quite open at this stage - we wouldn’t want to stifle your creativity in any way - but trust us when we say it’s well worth your while getting involved. Whether you have an idea for a new product that could encourage people to get gardening, a way of better of communicating the opportunities for physical activity in the city or want to suggest some improvements for the way public services are delivered in the Capital, we’d love to hear from you.
If you have a quick thought you want to stick down or come across something inspirational that you’d like to share, our ‘chatter’ stream means you can upload your thoughts through any of the usual sites that you’re probably already using, whether it’s Twitter or YouTube, delicious or flickr, or even some of the newer sites like Audioboo. Be sure to put the word (known as a ‘tag’) GoLondon in the tag box, or if you are posting a comment on Twitter use the tag #GoLondon….then just like magic it will appear in the chatter stream at www.go.london.nhs.uk.
What then?
If all the chatter inspires you to take your idea further, there is an opportunity for you to propose a more fully formed idea, with the chance to come in and work with a group of experts in your area of interest as well as the people who are going to help put it into practice from NHS and other organisations around London.
The conversation and competition will run from today (Monday 1st February) until Friday 19th March. After the closing date, all submissions will go to a judging panel and those thought to have the most potential will be invited to take part in the final competition at City Hall on Friday 9th April - so keep the date free!
Here the idea will be joined by innovators, developers and commissioners amongst others interested in getting the city active. The event will conclude with one of the ideas being declared the winner - which will be given the support needed to turn it from a bright spark into a working reality.
Keep in touch
You can keep up to date by subscribing to the project blog or follow us over on Twitter at @Go_London. Or drop me a line - we’d love to hear from you!
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Hello
I do not live in London, but am I allowed to contribute ?
If those that do are healthier, it should benefit us all. Also, as a visitor, it strikes me that I might be appreciative of more healthy alternatives e.g. Paris and its roller-skates and bicycles.
It is a shame that this comes across as London-centric. Are the Olympics not for all GB ?
Hi Alex,
We welcome all bright ideas as long as they relate to London. We agree that the Olympics is for the entire country, but this competition is a London based health authority specific initiative, so we are focusing on the health and well being of Londoners in its broadest definition.
However, we hope to inspire all- and hope that we capture some great ideas that can be used nationwide!
Office buildings should declare one day a week to be “Take the Stairs” Day, rewarding participants with lapel stickers or a number for a once-per-month raffle with prizes. An additional number for each time one uses the stairs rather than the lift.
Thanks Richard , it’s great to think of those in offices that might find it hard to get moving- these are just the sort of ideas we are hoping will come through. You should add yours to the site!