Lloyds TSB, Presenting Partner of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, is inviting residents of the Isle of Man to vote for one of the deserving community projects that inspire and support young people of the Isle of Man. The two lucky Isle of Man projects that receive the most votes will each be awarded a ?5,000 Lloyds Banking Group Community Fund grant.  

Lloyds Banking Group is Britain’s biggest corporate investor in UK communities and in 2011 invested ?85 million. As part of the Group’s Community Investment Programme, the Community Fund was launched to recognise initiatives that unlock the potential of future generations in communities across the length and breadth of the country along the route of the Olympic Torch Relay. Isle of Man community projects in the running for the Community Fund grant are Special Olympics Isle of Man, The Children’s Centre, Crossroad Carers, the Drug Advice Service and Helpline.   Members of the public can vote for the four community projects in the running to receive a grant from the Lloyds Banking Group Community Fund online from Friday 18 May 2012 at www.lloydsbankinggroupcommunities.com/communityfund.

Online voting closes on 9 September 2012 and the recipients of the Lloyds Banking Group Community Fund will be announced in October 2012.

As the only National Presenting Partner of the Olympic Torch Relay, Lloyds TSB is proud to be creating as many opportunities as possible for customers and communities to get involved with the Olympic Flame. Lloyds TSB’s troupe of performers, the Flame Followers, will arrive ahead of the Flame in a bespoke Lloyds TSB taxi to excite crowds with a unique fusion of street performance, theatre and sport celebrating the endeavour, athleticism, agility and skill of national Olympic sporting heroes, Team GB.

Sally Hancock, Director, 2012 Partnership at Lloyds Banking Group, says:

“The launch of the Lloyds Banking Group Community Fund is another way in which the Olympic Torch Relay binds all of our programmes together in 2012;  the Community Fund helps us give back to the communities in which we operate and pass through on our journey with the Olympic Flame. Our Torchbearers will be representing their local communities and we’re immensely proud to see Local Hero Grant Halsall carrying the Flame in the Isle of Man for his sport swimming and young athletes all over the UK. We’re also delighted to welcome National School Sport Week pupils from schools such as Arbory, who will be lining the 8000 mile route to help cheer on the Flame and celebrate the moment when every corner of Britain will start to feel the excitement of London 2012.’”

Since 2007 Lloyds TSB has been bringing the inspiration and excitement of the Games to the heart of communities across the UK through programmes such as Local Heroes which has supported 1000 future stars of Team GB and ParalympicsGB and National School Sport Week which has seen 8 million young people to do more sport since it began in 2009.

Many hundreds of Lloyds TSB Torchbearers selected for the difference they have made in their communities are carrying the Flame along the route and dozens will carry the Flame on day 15 through communities between Douglas and Castletown. Torchbearers and the Relay convoy will pass the Lloyds TSB branch in Castletown Square, which is hosting best of British themed celebrations and a street party. Lloyds Banking Group has also supported British businesses to maximise the commercial opportunities from the Games by helping business customers to win 2012 contracts.

The Lloyds TSB site at the Castletown Celebration on 2 June 2012 also provides the opportunity for residents of the Isle of Man to watch the Flame Followers take to the stage, have a photo taken with the Olympic Torch and meet Lloyds TSB Local Heroes – the future stars of Team GB and ParalympicsGB from the local area.

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