Barnstaple Grand Prix 2013
Sunday 19 May
The 999 Academy with support from Petroc,are delighted to announce that the Barnstaple Grand Prix will take place for a third year, on Sunday 19 May 2013. The 999 Academy is the first of its kind in the United Kingdom, bringing together all four emergency services and a further education provider. This joint service Academy enables a programme to inspir
e young people to become valued and respected members of our community whilst furthering their interest for a career in one of these services. This 999 Academy was born from a dedicated group of individuals made up from Petroc, Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service, South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, Devon & Cornwall Police and Maritime and Coastguard Agency. The opportunities created here in North Devon for these young people are something not available anywhere else Nationally. The Barnstaple Grand Prix will yet again feature the unique lawn mower street races as well as the highly entertaining pedal car race and we anticipate the participation in both to increase. It is also intended to runCriterium cycling youth races and this will form part of the British Cycling calendar as well as an open Go Ride Youth Cycling Race. The 999 Academy has just received a conditional grant offer from the Big Lottery Fund to provide a standard pedal car kit, with instructions and all parts required to build a basic pedal car for 6 youth teams. We are keen to receive expressions of interest from schools and youth groups in the local area who would like to take part. We very much hope this initiative will engage young people and show the enjoyable side of learning and the value of skills, particularly in reference to STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths). In 2013 there will be more emphasis on Road Traffic Reduction activities, family entertainment and community engagement,with the emergency services serving up a feast of health awareness activities. It is intended that a lot of this activity will centre around Castle Green, the Civic Centre car park and the surrounding area. The racing track will be different this year but promises to be just as challenging. We will very shortly be ready to take team entries for both the lawn mower and pedal car races but would like to hear from anyone that is interested in registering a team, would like to help in a volunteer capacity or who is part of a club who would like to showcase demonstrations in sport,dance, music, art & crafts, face painting etc. We are also looking at the possibility of an auto jumble and/or table top sale and market type stalls with an emphasis on health eating, exercise and healthy living. We are also keen to hear from local businesses who would be interested in sponsoring the event as there are great opportunities to raise their profile, particularly given that over the past two years, the event has attracted several thousand spectators into the town centre. Once again raising money for Children’s Hospice South West as well as the 999 Academy, we invite you all to come and join us for the only lawn mower and pedal car street race in the UK. Subject to the appropriate permissions being granted
