Forty five Personal Best students from Newham, Tower Hamlets, Lambeth and Westminster offered information and helped direct crowds while Track 12 member Jesa Modhawadia, 45, from Newham carried the flame for 250m. He was selected as part of the Personal Best programme which is linked to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Personal Best is run by the London Development Agency and the Learning and Skills Council to help some of the city's most disadvantaged to improve their job prospects. It uses the excitement of the 2012 Games to promote training for an accredited volunteering qualification while also offering participants support into further volunteering, training or work.
Closer to the time, graduates will be offered an interview to become a volunteer at the 2012 Games while 10 of Games time volunteers will come from the national programme.
Personal Best is currently running in 11 boroughs and will begin to be rolled out London-wide in the Spring. So far, 15% of the 370 graduates from the programme have moved into jobs, 42% have taken up further training and 33% have opted for volunteering opportunities. In total, the programme is expected to benefit up to 20,000 Londoners.
Manny Lewis, Chief Executive of the London Development Agency, said:
"Personal Best is about giving people the skills and confidence to make that first step into the job market, training courses or into a volunteer placement. It is great to see that after only a few months on the programme participants are confident enough to use new skills at such a high profile event.
"We aim to reduce worklessness across London by 70,000 through the 2012 Games and Personal Best will play a big role in achieving this."
Mary Conneely, Learning and Skills Director of Regeneration, said:
"Personal Best is motivating people to get back into education and training to gain the skills they need not just for the 2012 games, but also to achieve a qualification and employment. To be part of a historical event such as the Torch relay will inspire the Personal Best participants as well as offering them practical experience and confidence in being part of a large event."
Sebastian Coe, Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee said:
"The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games are a once in a lifetime opportunity for London and Londoners and it is fantastic to see Personal Best graduates gaining further experience of working at major sporting events. Four and a half years out from the Games themselves, Personal Best is clearly helping to deliver our vision for increased employment and skills opportunities for Londoners."
Mayor of Newham Sir Robin Wales
"We are proud of the contribution our volunteers will make to the smooth running and success of this historic event. The hands on experience they will get will be invaluable in helping them develop their skills and find employment. And it gives them a head start if they want to be involved in the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games taking place right on our doorstep."
Fran Beasley, Westminster City Council's Director of Policy and Performance, said:
"Westminster Council fully endorses the LDA's Personal Best Programme and is delighted with the support it provides for local jobseekers to access pathways to work, training and volunteering.
"As the Torch Relay passed through Westminster, it was great for visitors to benefit from the help of Westminster's Personal Best Programme participants, who acted as City Guides and played an important role in ensuring that the event was a great success".
