17 September 2007
Islington’s Copenhagen Youth Project takes part in 2007 Lord
Mayor’s Show
Copenhagen
Youth Project (CYP) based in Islington is one of six London
groups to have received £10,500 in funding from the Lord Mayor of
the City of London to build their own float for inclusion in the
Lord Mayor’s Show.
In the coming weeks, dozens of eight-to-18 year-olds in the King
Cross area will be hard at work learning new skills and developing
their creative and artistic flair to entertain around 300,000
spectators when the parade hits the streets of London on Saturday
10 November. They will also be building their own fantastic
float in which they will lead the new Lord Mayor from the Guildhall
to the Royal Courts of Justice for the annual inauguration
ceremony.
CYP co-ordinates sports, arts and skills-based projects in the
North Kings Cross area of Islington and is the lead organisation of
the Copenhagen Play and Youth Partnership (CPYP), a local
partnership which promotes the participation of children and young
people in neighbourhood regeneration. The CYP float features images
of local landmarks painted by its members, making up a giant
Islington skyline which will run the length of a flat bed lorry,
upon which will sit life-sized papier mache busts of
“hoodies”. Participants of the project will dance alongside
the float as it travels the 1.7mile Show route.
Kirsty Patterson, CYP youth worker, said: “The float will
express different elements in the lives of local children and young
people – from brilliant interpretations of local landmarks to dance
routines created through peer mentor workshops.
“Participation in the Lord Mayor’s Show is a great chance
to show off the skills which have been learned through classes and
workshops to the thousands of people who will be watching.”
The Lord Mayor’s community float scheme extends links between
the Square Mile and neighbouring City fringe boroughs. Sponsorship
in terms of finance and through expert workshops allows group
participants to develop their talents – which are demonstrated on
the day to the Show’s audience across the world.
Ends
Notes to editors
Facts about the Lord Mayor’s Show:
- First Lord Mayor was elected in 1215; the Show is now in its
792nd year.
- It welcomes in the 680th Lord Mayor of the City of London.
- The Show takes place annually on the second Saturday in
November.
- At 5.00pm, the Lord Mayor will light the touch paper to the
Lord Mayor’s Fireworks display on the River Thames between
Blackfriars and Waterloo Bridge. A team of eight
pyrotechnicians takes two days to set more than half a tonne of
giant fireworks, some of which shoot more than 600ft into the air.
It is the largest firework display in London.
- The word “float”, used to describe components of a parade or
procession, is derived from the Lord Mayor’s Show when originally
the exhibits would do just that - “float” along the Thames in
barges.
- The Pageantmaster, Dominic Reid, is responsible for organising
the logistics of the Show – this includes arranging for the lifting
and checking of 3,500 manhole covers, installation of 4,000
grandstand seats and 6,300 galvanised crowd barriers and laying of
43 tonnes of sand. He also organises the 6,000 participants, 180
vehicles and 20 marching bands.
- Last year there were more than 6,000 participants, 1,550
military personnel, 249 vehicles from Morris Minors to open top
buses, 71 floats, 24 bands of all shapes and sizes and a giant
mechanical Bengali tiger.
- To enjoy the celebrations, get to the City for the morning of
Saturday 10th November and nab a place on the well-marked route.
The procession will weave its way from Guildhall in the heart of
the City, through the historic streets of the Square Mile, passing
the Mansion House and St. Paul’s Cathedral before continuing to the
Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand.
- For more details on the Lord Mayor’s Show, including route,
timings and road closures, go to
http://www.lordmayorshow.org/
About the Role of the Lord Mayor:
The Lord Mayor of the City of London acts as an international
ambassador for the UK business and financial services industry. He
spends up to 80 days a year, travelling to around 20 countries to
promote this industry and the Square Mile as a place of excellence
in which to do business. As head of the City of London the Lord
Mayor is involved with local government and London-wide issues,
from the City of London's work in the regeneration of neighbouring
boroughs to transport and environmental issues which affect the
City. On behalf of the Sovereign and the Government, he also acts
as host when the City of London provides hospitality for visiting
heads of state and foreign dignitaries.
About the City of London Corporation:
The ancient City of London Corporation has a 21st century role
supporting the business city as the world’s leading international
financial and business centre. The City of London Corporation
provides local government services for the City of London “Square
Mile” at the heart of London – but its responsibilities also extend
far beyond the City boundaries and include paying for and running
the Barbican Centre, Epping Forest, Hampstead Heath, and three
wholesale food markets, as well as acting as the London Port Health
Authority.