Key partnerships and new research at heart of progress towards increasing Londoners’ physical activity levels

New report shows significant progress made against target of getting 1,000,000 Londoners more physically active by 2020

• Financial data shows £5.6m invested in grassroots sport across the capital in financial year to 31 March 2017
• New research into less active Londoners points to future opportunities to support more people into physical activity
• Significant support from key partners identified as playing key role in past year’s achievements

Launched today to coincide with Most Active City, London Sport’s annual partner engagement summit, Building on Strong Foundations – 2016/17 Review, shows that London Sport remains on track to support 1,000,000 Londoners to become more physically active by 2020.

Highlighting key achievements and new initiatives launched in the financial year to 31 March 2017, the report draws attention to data showing 216,000 Londoners have become more physically active between 2014 and 2016 leaving the organisation on track to achieve its 2020 target.

Drawing on new data, research and case studies from the 12 months to 31 March 2017, the report highlights initiatives that will help to support more Londoners of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to lead physically active lives across the capital.

With financial data revealing an investment of £5.6m into the delivery and administration of funded programmes in 2016-17 (96% of total group expenditure) and £2.8m invested directly into grassroots clubs support and development programmes (50.2% of total programme delivery expenditure), the level of support for creating a happier, healthier and more prosperous London through physical activity and sport has never been higher.

Achievements identified for the past year include:

• The launch of #LDNMovesMe – London Sport’s first ever consumer-facing campaign;
• The delivery of an organisational restructure to provide greater scalability and efficiency in supporting partners across London;
• London Sport and Crowdfunder’s crowdfunding pilot, successfully raising over £30,000 for grassroots sport projects;
• The announcement of London’s first physical tech incubator hub for FitTech and SportTech start-ups focused on increasing levels of physical activity; and,
• Investment of £15,000 into the development of regular running programmes in primary schools across London.

Reflecting on the release of Building on Solid Foundations, Angus Robertson, London Sport Director of Operations, said:

“Two years on from the launch of London Sport, the organisation continues to go from strength-to-strength, as outlined in today’s report.

"From the announcement of the forthcoming House of Sport to the launch of our Funding Search Tool and our ground-breaking new research into the lives of less active Londoners, this has been a year of significant progress.

“Nonetheless, we know that this is not the time to rest on our laurels.

"Achieving our target of getting 1,000,000 Londoners more active by 2020 will require concerted effort, not only from London Sport, but from new and existing partners working at all levels across the capital.

“We will continue to champion the importance of physical activity and sport across our great city and ensure that the steps we take today contribute to a happier, healthier and more prosperous future for London, and for all Londoners."