City of London to investigate how it can re-imagine sport and physical activity

The City of London Corporation is to investigate how it can re-imagine sport and physical activity within the Square Mile with the help of London Sport’s consultancy services.

Physical activity habits have been severely disrupted by the covid-19 pandemic, but the City of London Corporation is focused on delivering for those who live, work, and visit the Square Mile.

And to learn more about the views of residents when it comes to physical activity, the City of London Corporation has built upon their ongoing partnership with London Sport.

The relationship began with the spectacular London Sport Awards 2020, held at the historic Guildhall, which demonstrated the incredible impact of sport and physical activity across London.

Now, London Sport will lead the community consultation across the Square Mile to gain greater understanding of their feelings towards opportunities for activity where they live.

London Sport’s findings and recommendations will be used alongside wider research including a separate project by ukactive into workers’ views of sport and physical activity.

This new insight will focus on improving the health and wellbeing of the 8,000 Square Mile residents post covid-19 and look at how to bring workers back to the City following months of home-working.

It is hoped that the research will provide evidence for the development of a new vision to make the Square Mile a leading sport and leisure epicentre in London over the next decade.

Tove Okunniwa, London Sport’s Chief Executive Officer, said:

“We’re delighted to be working with the City of London Corporation once again after their quite brilliant support of the London Sport Awards at the start of 2020.

“Partnerships are a critical part of our new LDN Moving strategy because it’s only by working closely together with organisations, like the City of London Corporation, that we can make progress towards a more active city and the benefit that brings to people’s physical and mental health.

“It is invaluable to hear and understand the views of residents as the bedrock of future work within grassroots sport and physical activity and we remain committed to our ‘nothing about us without us’ approach as laid out in the strategy.” 

Randall Anderson, Chairman of City of London Corporation’s Community and Children’s Services Committee, said:

“Access to physical exercise is just one area which has been impacted by covid-19, and ensuring opportunities for sports and leisure are available will be a key part of the City's recovery from the pandemic.

“I’d encourage City residents to take part in this consultation, which will allow us to get a better understanding of how people exercise normally and what sport and leisure opportunities they’d like to see.”

If you are a resident of the Square Mile, you can complete the survey here.

To find out more about London Sport's Consultancy Services, click here.