Endorsements

Jonathan Edwards CBE lends his support to the Challenge

'This is a fantastic project, and an important initiative in ensuring that hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012 has a lasting sporting impact. It has my full support'

Hugh Robertson, Minister for Sport and the Olympics

'Playing fields play a vital role in our communities and I am thrilled to see the launch of this fantastic new initiative. What better way to mark both the Diamond Jubilee and the London 2012 Olympics than by ensuring future generations will have access to space for sport and play.'

Sir Chris Hoy, 4 Times Olympic Champion

'Hosting the 2012 Olympics in the year of the Diamond Jubilee is a great honour for the UK and I cannot think of a better way to pay tribute to these events than by ensuring the future of outdoor spaces across the country. I fully support the Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge and hope that it will play a key role in securing the next generation of sporting stars.'

Jack Taylor, JP OBE - Former FA Cup & World Cup Referee; Ambassador of the Football League

'Local playing fields are the grassroots of football and the breeding grounds of our future stars.  These fields have provided somewhere for generations of players to practice and develop their skills and I fully support this project to secure more and more fields for generations to come.'

Rhys Williams, Bronze Medallist 400m Hurdles

'I support this cause, along with the 2012 Olympics inspiring a new generation of youngsters, local authorities need to play their part and make sure every youngster can reach their potential. Local playing fields play a key part in developing youngsters’ skills and they give them the earliest experiences of sport.'

Derek Redmond, Gold Medallist & Record Holder 400m

'The opportunities that playing fields provide to young people are fundamental in building sporting enthusiasm and this is a brilliant campaign to help our future athletes. I would not be where I am now without having access to my local playing field.'

Don Foster, MP for Bath & Co-chair of the Liberal Democrat back bench committee for Culture, Media and Sport

‘Playing fields are the life blood of communities and I have lobbied for better protection of them for many years. So I’m delighted to see the launch of the Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge. This initiative is a chance to guarantee permanent protection for outdoor spaces across the country. I hope Fields in Trust are successful in achieving this ambitious aim.’

Dr Christian Jessen, Channel 4's Supersize vs Superskinny

'Having free use of outdoor space will encourage more physical activity and so help reduce our worrying levels of childhood obesity, making this a great initiative for the future health of our children.'

Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme

'The DofE encourages young people to get fit and enjoy the outdoors. We need to protect the precious spaces available for outdoor activity to ensure future generations can benefit too. The QEII Fields Challenge is a great initiative which we are delighted to support.'

CCPR

‘CCPR is committed to ensuring that high quality spaces for sport and recreation are available for use all across the country and so we’re delighted to support this fantastic new initiative to protect 2012 outdoor spaces in the UK and wish Fields in Trust every success in achieving this ambitious programme.’