Programme Origin & David's Vision
In 2005 London won the opportunity to host the 2012 Olympic Games. Shortly after, Lord Sebastian Coe, Chair of the London organising committee, asked Dr David Hemery CBE, deputy chair of the British Olympic Association and Olympic Gold Medallist, to consider developing a legacy to inspire the youth of Britain and the rest of the world.
One picture painted in Britain at the time was of many young people who lacked aspiration and who were involved in low level violence or with alcohol, drugs and poor behaviour. The statistics also showed that teenage pregnancies were among the highest in Europe.
Yet David’s philosophy and instincts suggested that young people have great potential and with the right support could be a credit to themselves and the communities in which they lived.
Age fourteen David was only six stone in weight and being dyslexic had only learnt to read at the age of 10. As he often says not a great start if you wanted to be a world champion and lifelong educationalist. David was inspired as a teenager by a race at the White City Stadium when the Great Britain runner Chris Chataway beat Vladimir Kutz in a new World record time.
David decided that he wanted to be an Olympian and champion. With a clear vision, huge determination and hard work he achieved his dreams. Standing on the podium in Mexico he asked himself “Why me? Ever since he has researched and successfully taught how to reach outstanding performance in business, sport and education. His overriding philosophy is that there is a spark of greatness in everyone and the difference between mediocrity and success lies in the area of enhanced awareness of our goals and dreams and a choice to take personal responsibility for achieving them.
Having spent twenty years helping senior leaders change the habits of a lifetime he wanted to use these same skills to give young people the opportunity to develop empowering habits they can use for their lifetime. With this personal background and with the 2012 games as a catalyst he wanted to share his passion for supporting young people’s dreams. He therefore created Be the Best you can Be, as a world class programme, to challenge and change the hearts and minds of young people so they are able to develop their potential to the full.
David Hemery works with young people at one of our school launches.
"There is a spark of greatness in everyone."
David Hemery CBE
