Olympic award to 'Revive Portland'

The project aims to create cleaner, safer, healthier neighbourhoods"

A community project to transform parts of Portland before the 2012 Olympics has been officially recognised.

The London Olympic Games Organising Committee grants the "Inspire Mark" to initiatives inspired by the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Revive Portland is part of the Changing Places project, designed to help improve the areas around host venues.

The 2012 sailing events will be held in Weymouth and Portland, the first venue to be to be completed outside London.

The Inspire Mark can be used on successful projects, including marketing material, so they can be part of London 2012's "brand family".

This national initiative encourages communities to unite to transform their local area.

It involves improving the negative parts and celebrating the good in order to create "cleaner, safer and healthier neighbourhoods".

The award will help give Portland a "major boost"

Residents' interest in the scheme has been described as "phenomenal", with more than 500 ideas being put forward through the Ideas Shop consultation, which was held in summer 2009.

This was a drop-in shop in Fortuneswell, on Portland, which opened to take residents' ideas on how to boost the area for both residents and tourists.

Nikki Billington is the Dorset Police engagement officer for the 2012 Olympic sailing events.

She said: "The ideas people came up with generally related to community events, like festivals and carnivals.

"There were also calls for affordable activities for young people, street furniture and a skate park.

"And many wanted to see an end to boarded-up shops in Fortuneswell."

Mark Jackson, a resident and chairman of the Revive Portland group is thrilled with the Inspire Mark award.

He said: "This is a highly prized award which will give a major boost to our project and help us to achieve huge benefits for the residents of the area.

"'[It] is the start of what will be an exciting journey for the people of the area in the lead up to 2012."