About the Project

It is a national conversation about innovation and change, engaging with the youth of today and encouraging them to shape their future, encouraging them to become champions, achieve their personal best, and fulfill their potential, whatever that may be, as citizens of the future.

The objective is to reach and engage our core consumer groups and business partners in an innovative, creative, dynamic, vibrant and meaningful way.

To leave a legacy of ownership, engagement and collaboration and acceptance of change, to create a voice for change, by engaging the youth of today (school children, college and university students) as the citizens of the future.

Starting the exploration about the future, encourage children to visualise the future and what it may be, to explore the challenges and opportunities in the future. How will it look, feel, taste and smell. Creating little puppets, little champions, who are awakening to a future of opportunities.

Imagination Our Nation has recently been awarded the Inspire Mark by the Cultural Olympic Committee for the second year running. Seb Coe, Chair, London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, attended one of the Imagination our Nation events at Comberton Village College in Cambridgeshire, and said:

“Imagination: Our Nation is encouraging diverse and inclusive communities, in particular the youth of today to fulfil their potential. I am proud that with the help of partners such as Kinetika, we are delivering on our vision to use the power of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games to boost participation in performing arts”.

Audience levels of three million people were reached in 2009, with over 9000 participants engaged in the 57 events across the UK.

Engaging older children to explore which priorities will be chosen as the challenge, and deciding how the challenge relates particularly to their community. They will create a plan of action and explore solutions, using larger puppets to communicate the chosen challenge.

Engaging with university students to discover the solution to the problem, work together to implement the solution, and create a digital / technological manifestation of the gifts (solutions) following the theme of the chosen challenges.

Engaging with the minority and hard to reach groups through local initiatives and forums, and by encouraging them to engage in out of school activities. And encouraging these families to create work, using a range of art forms, which can be included in ION events.

Engaging with older members of society – treasure the gift of storytelling and learning from our past, harnessing there stories and teaching about the future. Working with Partners, who already work with these groups.

The Public

Encouraging the broader community to participate in events, from a walking treasure hunt to discover the gifts and meeting the visiting Champion, to interacting digitally via the web or big screens.

The finale takes place in 2012 with a celebratory gathering of our partners and thousands of participants from across the UK in London ! Champions of our Communities coming together for the first time with a Vision for the Future.