At 1.00pm on Tuesday 8 July, outside Mayor Boris Johnson's office, 2000 people from across the UK will be led in a dance class that aims to break the Guinness Book of Records for the most number of people dancing in one place at one time. Anyone is invited to join in.

Flava, semi-finalists in this year's Britain's Got Talent TV competition, will be dancing at this event, where they will also be available to talk to participants.

Ending the 2008 Rock Challenge® tour, this international performing arts competition for schools and colleges has teamed up with the Big Dance to invite members of the public to join in the record-breaking attempt. Genesis Community is supporting this spectacular event.

Throughout the day there will be inspiring performances from schools across the UK, plus live link-ups to Australia and New Zealand.

The Rock Challenge® focuses on driving home positive messages about substance misuse and crime prevention by providing young people with the opportunity to experience a 'drug free high'. The global message is 'Be Your Best, Be Yourself' and this message reaches young people in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, Dubai, Europe, and the UK.

Hans Emblad, former Director of the World Health Organization's Substance Abuse Programme, said "In my 30 or 40 years of experience of combating drug, alcohol or tobacco misuse, this is by far the most effective preventative action I have come across, one of the very few preventative activities to have a proven record of being successful, and I think anybody who considers these problems important in the world and have the possibility and the means to make a contribution should seriously consider supporting the Rock Challenge."

Iain Mackechnie-Jarvis, Head of Genesis Community, said "This worldwide event is a superb initiative that not only provides stunning entertainment for audiences, but most importantly is changing the way young people see themselves and equipping them with essential skills to become responsible, fulfilled adults. This is exactly the kind of partnership working Genesis Community is proud to be a part of."

Jasmine Fanano, aged 18, who took part in the 2008 Rock Challenge's Southampton Heats, said "Taking part in Rock Challenge has given many of us a chance to express ourselves on stage in a way we may never have been able to otherwise. It is a challenging and hardworking experience, yet a supremely exciting and rewarding one!"

The day's activities begin at 11.00am, with the record attempt beginning at 1.00pm. The day ends at 4.00pm. You are invited.

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For further information about Genesis Housing Group please contact:

Diana Evans: 020 8150 4178 / diana.evans@ghg.org.uk

For further information contact about the Rock Challenge®, images or case studies please contact: Stuart McGregor - PR Manager on: 07920 826574 / 02380 617753 / stuart.mcgregor@talk21.com or Zoie Golding, UK Rock Challenge® producer: 07710 060798 / zoie@rockchallenge.co.uk .

Visit www.rockchallenge.co.uk/ for more information on the Be Your Best Foundation's Rock Challenge®

Visit www.london.gov.uk/bigdance/ for more information on The Big Dance

Notes to Editors

The Rock Challenge® is a drug and crime prevention vehicle that comes in the form of a performing arts competition for primary schools, secondary schools and colleges across the UK. It was introduced into the UK by Hampshire Constabulary in 1996 and is produced by the Be Your Best Foundation, a registered charity. The focus of this friendly competition is on young people leading healthy lifestyles and being their best without the need for tobacco, alcohol or other drugs.

Regularly-conducted evaluations show proven benefits above and beyond the original aims and objectives. In particular, the Rock Challenge® delivers outcomes in line with current government thinking and policy, specifically with the outcomes sought from the Every Child Matters Children's agenda of 2004.

Every year the Be Your Best Foundation sees a dramatic increase in the numbers of young people taking part in the UK Rock Challenge, their commitment, talent and enthusiasm is testament to the success of this fast growing, dynamic and effective event.

The Rock Challenge® began in Australia in 1980 and events are also being held in Australia , New Zealand , South Africa , Dubai , Germany and Japan.

In 1996, 500 students from 11 schools took part in the first Rock Challenge ® event in Portsmouth . It has since swept through UK schools and colleges to the extent that this year there will be over 18,000 young people from more than 300 schools competing in 38 events throughout England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The vision of the Be Your Best Foundation is to contribute to improving the quality of life for all of society by encouraging young people to take an active role in building safe and healthy communities.

Rock Challenge® UK is part of the Global Rock Challenge™ and is the Foundation's main activity every year for promoting this cause. The functions of the Be Your Best Foundation in relation to The Rock Challenge® are to: (a) secure national and local, statutory, commercial and charitable funding for the event; (b) facilitate the formation of partnerships between relevant national and local commercial and charitable agencies; and (c) build suitable networks through which The Rock Challenge® can be extended towards the interim target of involving 500 schools by 2010.

These functions continue throughout the year and lead up to the production of the Rock Challenge® events that take place annually between February and June. The Rock Challenge® could not operate throughout the country without the financial support and expertise of the Foundation.

The Rock Challenge® delivers anti-drug and crime-prevention messages to the heart of teenage culture by using music, dance, fashion and media images that are familiar and attractive to large numbers of young people.

The event captures the imagination of young people, providing them with an exciting and unique opportunity to experience the 'drug-free high' of performing in a supportive and professional environment with over 100 of their fellow school students, rehearsing in a supportive and professional environment and in the company of from 500 to over 1000 of their contemporaries, before then going on to perform their piece in an evening show that is often played to sell-out audiences.

Feedback from participating schools indicates that the use of tobacco products, alcohol and other drugs is reduced or stops entirely among participating students.

Genesis Community was set up in 2005 by Genesis Housing Group. It is a charitable foundation created to fulfill Genesis Housing Group's commitments to address the challenges of deprivation and social exclusion in disadvantaged areas. Projects delivered by Genesis Community focus on the key themes of young people, vulnerable and elderly people, safer communities, financial inclusion and training and employment.

With over 50 projects running in over 15 boroughs across London and the south east, Genesis Community has built a reputation as an exceptional project partner and as an innovative provider of community initiatives. Visit www.ghg.org.uk/Genesis+Community/ for further information.

Genesis Housing Group provides homes and services to tens of thousands of people across London and the south east. The Group consists of PCHA, Pathmeads and Springboard housing associations, as well as Genesis Community, its charitable arm. It is one of the largest and most successful housing groups in the UK, owning and/or managing more than 40,000 homes. Its overriding aim is to put customers first and to provide excellent service to all.