Shortlist for London Sport Awards 2021 announced

• Premiership Rugby champions Harlequins among community groups, health workers, and businesses shortlisted
• This year’s Awards celebrates those that have made a positive impact in grassroots physical activity and sport during the pandemic
• Tickets and full details of event to be revealed in October

The final shortlists for the London Sport Awards 2021, supported by the City of London Corporation, have been announced today, with an array of community volunteers, grassroots teams, health and fitness clubs, elite sports organisations, and businesses, nominated across ten Awards categories.

Coming on the back of a challenging 18 months, this year’s event will celebrate the unsung heroes of grassroots physical activity and sport across technology, health and wellbeing, and voluntary sectors, as well as the outstanding individuals who have gone above and beyond to keep Londoners moving during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Among the city’s professional teams, London Pulse Netball Club, Charlton Athletic Community Trust, and 2019 Awards winners Saracens Sports Foundation are all nominated for The Elite Sport in the Community Award for their contribution to grassroots sport. 

Meanwhile, Harlequins Foundation has been nominated for The Health and Wellbeing Award alongside Open Age and Social Action for Health.

Of those shortlisted for The Business Contribution Award, fitness group Decathlon, based in Southwark, launched free classes via social media in response to the Covid-19 outbreak and reached thousands of people, while London-wide Tideway brought forward scheduled payments and de-restricted funds for partner London Youth Rowing (LYR) to help the group meet operational costs during the pandemic.

Among those returning to the Awards for a second time, Nahimul Islam, from Tower Hamlets, has been shortlisted in the Volunteer of the Year category. 

Nahimul was nominated for Inspirational Young Person of the Year last year, which was won by Vanessa Nsilu, who joined this year’s 12-strong judging panel of industry experts.

Meanwhile, one of The Children and Young People Award 2020 finalists, Movement Works, based in Lewisham, are in the running again this year – this time for The Uniting London Award.

They go up against Rathbone Amateur Boxing Club, based in Westminister, as well as The London & South East Regional Netball Association and the Metropolitan Police, representing Croydon.

London Sport Chair, Jillian Moore, who sat as chair of the London Sport Awards judging panel, said:

“For yet another year, physical activity and sport across our capital has brought people and businesses together and seen many groups and individuals continue to make a positive contribution to their communities.

“With such much incredible work continuing to take place in the capital, there were no easy decisions for the Awards judging panel when deciding on the Awards shortlist – I send my huge congratulations and thanks to all those who have been shortlisted for their superhuman efforts over the last 18 months.”

“The efforts of our shortlisted nominees have helped make a big difference through the power of sport and physical activity. I want to congratulate you all for your outstanding contribution to your communities and wish you the best of luck during this year’s ceremony.”

William Russell, Lord Mayor of the City of London, said: “

“Sport plays a vital role in bringing communities together and there has never been a more important time for us to unite in the way that so many people have done over these past 18 months.

“Congratulations to everyone who has been shortlisted for this year’s Awards ceremony. Your contribution to our great city is thoroughly appreciated and we hope to see you continue your outstanding work in the years to come.”

The winners of all ten categories will be announced during an in-person ceremony held at the Guildhall on Monday 6 December 2021, subject to Covid-19 guidance.

The Awards is supported, for the second year running, by the City of London Corporation, and will bring together people and organisations from every part of London’s sporting community.

For more details about the nominees shortlisted, visit https://londonsport.org/our-events/london-sport-awards.

Full Shortlists – London Sport Awards 2021 supported by the City of London Corporation

The Young Londoners Award

• Charlton Athletic Community Trust (Greenwich)
• Power Mobile Gym (PMG) (Greenwich)
• London Youth Games (Multi-borough, office in Southwark)

The Enhancing the Workforce Award, in association with Chipotle

• The ACE Programme Charity (Lambeth)
• Street Games (Lambeth)
• Tigers Junior Football (Havering)

The Tech and Digital Award

• Street Tag Limited (Barking and Dagenham)
• Merton Mencap (Merton)
• Bexley Mencap (Bexley)

The Community Impact Award, in association with GameDay

• Social Organisation for Unity and Leisure (Tower Hamlets)
• Core Arts (Hackney)
• Carney’s Community (Wandsworth)

Volunteer of the Year,

• Warren King (Hammersmith & Fulham)
• Nahimul Islam (Tower Hamlets)
• Adaeze Iheanacho (Southwark)

The Elite Sport in the Community Award

• London Pulse Netball Club (Newham)
• Saracens Sports Foundation (Barnet)
• Charlton Athletic Community Trust (Greenwich)

The Health and Wellbeing Award,

• Harlequins Foundation (Richmond)
• Open Age (Kensington and Chelsea)
• Social Action for Health (Hackney)

The Business Contribution Award, in association with the City of London Corporation

• Decathlon (Southwark)
• Tideway (Multi-borough, office in Southwark)

The Uniting London Award

• Rathbone Amateur Boxing Club (Westminster)
• The London & South East Regional Netball Association and the Metropolitan Police (Croydon)
• Movement Works (Lewisham)

Inspirational Young Person of the Year

• Kieran Matthews (Brent)
• Charlie Hyman (Camden)
• Elvire Mavusi Matu (Barking and Dagenham)