London Sport ‘extraordinarily well positioned’ to enhance Londoners' lives

London Sport is ‘extraordinarily well positioned’ to improve the lives of Londoners, according to Chair Jillian Moore, following the release of their 2018/19 Impact Report.

Moore was appointed by the Mayor of London this summer to lead the Board at London Sport - the strategic body working to improve Londoners' lives by increasing levels of physical activity and sport.

Sport England data shows that adult physical activity participation rates in London rose by 2.2% in the 12 months to November 2018 with 64.5% of adult Londoners meeting government guidelines for activity.

The 2018/19 Report, released at the Active London conference yesterday (Tuesday 10 September), highlights the success of a range of London Sport supported physical activity projects.

A sector-leading digital marketing pilot has seen more than 7,000 people sign-up for behaviour change support with over 900 of those joining local walking groups while 125 organisations have attended collaborative working sessions at London Sport Community of Practice events.

The report also shows that London Sport distributed nearly £500,000 of grant funding to community sport groups over the past 12 months across the capital – supporting the formation of more than 150 clubs in the process, primarily through Sport England’s Satellite Clubs programme.

Moore said: “As the widespread benefits of physical activity for London become clearer and clearer, we are extraordinarily well positioned to help improve the lives of Londoners.

“The next 12 months offers some extraordinarily exciting opportunities for physical activity and sport in London and I’m delighted we remain well-positioned to seize on the possibilities ahead.”

The 24-page report, produced by London Sport, also outlines the organisation’s work with Sport England’s Local Delivery Pilots and the growth of incubator programme Sport Tech Hub.

Elsewhere, London Sport’s social prescribing workforce pilot saw 51 specialists receive workshop training with £33,000 of funding secured to roll-out the project across even more boroughs.

Case studies of London Sport’s work over the past 12 months is also available in the report alongside an outline of the segmentation research into understanding less-active Londoners.

Mike Diaper, Executive Director of Children and Young People at Sport England, said:

“I am delighted by the continued successes that London Sport have demonstrated over the past year. London Sport’s dedication to tackling the causes of inactivity is playing a vital role in transforming the capital through sport and physical activity.

“Helping people to live more active lives offers real opportunities for the futures of every Londoner. I want to thank the entire team at London Sport for the difference they are making."

Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard, Deputy Mayor for Social Integration, Social Mobility and Community Engagement, added:

“The publication of the Mayor’s Strategy for Sport and Physical Activity saw a reaffirmation of the Mayor’s commitment to sport in London; I believe that London Sport has an important role to play in helping us to deliver on those commitments. 

“At a time where many Londoners stand to benefit from the enhanced social connections that sport can create, I hope to see our two organisations continuing to work together to make a real change.”

London Sport's full 2018/19 Impact Report is available here.