Prime Highlights:
- London Sport will use the funding to help Lambeth, Newham, and Enfield residents become more active and healthy.
- Sport and physical activity contributed £18.8 billion in economic and social value to London last year.
Key Facts:
- The investment targets groups facing the biggest barriers, including women, young people, older adults, and diverse communities.
- Over 90 Sport England place partnerships are now active across the country to support local communities.
Background:
London has been awarded a share of Sport England’s £250 million investment to make the capital more active, focusing on communities facing the greatest barriers to participation. The funding will support three London boroughs, Lambeth, Newham, and Enfield, through partnerships led by London Sport.
New analysis from London Sport shows that sport and physical activity generated £18.8 billion of economic and social value in the capital last year. This includes over £2 billion in wider societal benefits, such as NHS savings, increased productivity, and reduced risk of long-term health conditions.
Social value also reflects improvements in individual well-being through participation and volunteering, with £2.15 billion generated by children and young people (7–16), £13.1 billion from active adults, and £1.06 billion from adult volunteers.
Emily Robinson, CEO of London Sport, said, “Sport and physical activity created more than £18 billion of social value for London last year. While this shows the enormous potential in our city, many Londoners still face barriers to being active. This new investment will help us reach those least active groups, including disabled people and lower-income communities.”
Each borough will benefit from a tailored approach. In Enfield, London, Sport will coordinate local partners and gradually transfer leadership to the community, ensuring lasting change.
Lisa Dodd-Mayne, Sport England’s Executive Director for Place, said that they are focused on helping local partners remove obstacles so everyone can be more active. She added that they are excited to see the benefits in Lambeth, Newham, and Enfield.
