MORE than 60 young volunteers from the Stepney area are joining 2012 Christians, aged 13 to 35, from across London, to serve on a variety of projects surrounding the Olympics and Paralympics (News, 3 February).

Known as “the2012”, they gathered at St Paul’s, Shadwell, for a day’s training and preparation, and were joined by the Bishop of Stepney, the Rt Revd Adrian Newman, and the Archdeacon of Hackney, the Ven. Rachel Treweek. The conference was opened by the Bishop with a message of encouragement to all the delegates, and a prayer of blessing for the day.

The volunteers will offer various simple acts of service, ranging from providing free drinks of water for the spectators to week-long commitments serving in parish holiday-clubs, encouraging sports among children. All the members of “the2012” will be commissioned by the Bishop of London, the Rt Revd Richard Chartres, at the London Calling service in St Paul’s Cathedral on 24 April.