Closing of Spirit of 2012
28 January 2026
Written by Phil Chamberlain, England Director of Strategy, Partnerships and Engagement
Do you remember the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games? That feeling of hope and pride that boosted our spirits? Such a magical moment. How do you harness something like that and inspire countless others? Well, armed with £47 million of National Lottery funding, that’s exactly what Spirit of 2012 set out to do. And as a trust founded to fund projects that bring communities together, that’s exactly what they did.
Critical Mass perform at Birmingham International Dance Festival 2022.
Recreating social connections
Funding partners across the UK provided opportunities in:
- sports
- physical activity
- arts and culture
- volunteering
- social action
It inspired 3.5 million participants and 62,000 volunteers and helpers to recreate the spirit of pride, positivity, and social connection many of us experienced that summer.
And over half of Spirit of 2012’s regular participants were young people discovering their power to make a difference. They led social action — often for the first time — driving things forward with real authority and real responsibility. All because of the truly life-changing funding we gave to Spirit of 2012.
Spirit of 2012 projects
There are so many success stories because of this fantastic trust. These include projects such as:
To name but only a few. Each is a testament to the vision, dedication, and skill of everyone involved.
But it was never just about events or activities, important as these are. For Spirit of 2012 it was about bringing communities together. Empowering young people not just to participate but to lead. Championing accessibility and equality, and changing how we think about inclusion in major events and community programmes.
Above all, it’s about leaving people’s lives better than how we found them. And how anyone can achieve extraordinary things when given real opportunities and support.
The spirit of Spirit lives on
Spirit of 2012 now draws to its planned close in January. Everyone who poured their expertise and passion into it, who collaborated, and gave their time and energy, should feel deeply proud of all that they accomplished. Its staff, its partners, its volunteers, and its community members.
On behalf of The National Lottery Community Fund, thank you. Thank you for your vision, your determination, your creativity and your unwavering commitment to making our communities even better and more connected.
While Spirit of 2012 ends as a trust, its effect, impact, and inspiration will continue to ripple outward through communities across the country for a very long time.
You can find out more about their great work on the Spirit of 2012’s website.