We want to share inspiring stories of individuals and communities who have been empowered to engage in physical activity and sport. Our work has enabled a wide range of initiatives, from creating accessible outdoor spaces to providing equipment and coaching for underrepresented groups.
These case studies showcase the transformational power that sport and physical activity can have on communities across the capital.
Clay was at the lowest point in her life when took up regular boxing classes with Osmani Trust, she turned her life around for the better and discovered the transformative power of boxing on her life. Through sport, Clay became part of a family and built a resilience that translated into her everyday life, teaching her never to give up and that there is always light at the end of the tunnel.
“One of the things it has taught me is to keep your head up. You might be struggling really badly, but taking baby steps is better than doing nothing.”
– Clay
Steel Warriors is an anti knife crime charity that melt down knives taken off the streets and recycles the steel into outdoor street gyms. They use calisthenics and street workout to transform the lives of people affected by crime, violence and social exclusion, giving them the skills and confidence they need to create positive futures, and foster stronger, closer and more loving communities. The energy is infectious
“Calisthenics has given me a purpose. For the first time in my life, I know what I want to do. I’m a happy man, and for me, it’s not just about fitness; it’s about overall mental well-being.”
– Participant
London Sport partnered with Karmabank, GLL, Perry Ellis, and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to develop a female-only swim project on Friday afternoons over a period of five weeks from July 2023.
Sessions targeted women from Kensington and Chelsea, particularly in the south of the borough, who didn’t access swimming due to differing barriers, creating an environment where women felt safe to learn to swim.
“As soon as I get in the water I feel like I’m completely in another world, you forget about things and I feel free.”
– Participant
The objective of the project was to provide a safe and accessible place for girls to train with qualified personal trainers on a weekly basis.
The sessions teach the girls the importance and fundamentals of strength training through the use of weighted and body-weight based exercises.
“When I’m training at boxing I’m around boys, but at the sessions I’m around girls and I can actually be myself”
– Participant
Part of London Sport’s Space for Girls project, these sessions provided free skating lessons for local women and girls, giving them an opportunity to be active in safe and engaging environment.
This was an exciting and new experience for all of the participants, and offered various forms of the sport from street skating, indoor, ‘jam’ skate and speed skating.
“It’s the highlight of my week, at the end of a Friday after a very bad school week I get to go and do skating for free”
– Participant
The primary objective of the project was to foster familiar bonds and promote physical activity by bringing teenage girls and their mothers together for an engaging “learn to cycle” activity.
Bike Works CIC also delivered sessions offering expert guidance, bicycles, and safety gear. To ensure longevity and sustainable activity levels in the future, each family received a bike and helmet upon completion of the programme.
“It was my dream to ride a bike. The main reason I took part is so that I could be together with my daughter doing something, and I really enjoy it.“
– Participant
We were delighted to welcome Olympic Champion Max Whitlock to Colville Primary School to raise awareness of inactivity among London children. With less than half of young Londoners achieving the recommended levels of physical activity, and with 1 in 12 doing no activity at all, it’s vital that we can help more schools provide sport and other activities for their pupils.
“For a child to go in, have fun and keep active is a huge thing.”
– Max Whitlock
The Together Fund supports local women in Westminster to break barriers through African dance at Chelsea Theatre.
By empowering local women through traditional African dance and more, we are breaking down barriers to physical and mental well-being.
“I find the sessions exhilarating, when I leave the classes I feel like a new person.”
– Carmen, Participant
Supported by London Sport through the Tackling Inequalities Fund, Carney’s Community is providing long-term support and empathy to disadvantaged young people.
Along with boxing fitness sessions, they offer mentoring, youth work, business development, and a sense of community for young people.
“Everyone’s always in a good mood and trying to encourge each other to do their best. That’s the people I want to be around.”
– Blaine
London Sport Awards 2021 winners Charlton Community Athletic Trust provides football and other physical activities on their community pitch to young participants, with free sole-use slots for clinically vulnerable children.
They also delivered a free Summer Activity Programme for 570 disadvantaged children, offering physical activity, nutritious food and active learning.
“He’s grown a lot more confident in himself and interacting with other people, especially adults and other children who have the same disability as he does.”
– Zachary, Father of Participant
Supported by London Sport through the Tackling Inequalities Fund Barking Mosque provides boxing, archery and circuit classes to keep their local community active.
One group they focus on is Muslim women, who traditionally haven’t had the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of mainstream physical activity.
“Physical activity is so welcoming because it just allows me to maintain that energy levels and my mental wellbeing.”
– Christina
London Sport Awards 2021 winners Wapping Youth FC is an award-winning grassroots football team, aiming to teach young Londoners the value of physical activity and community spirit through the beautiful game.
Wapping allows its participants to learn about community leadership and even progress to coaching at the club.
“This club has really helped me progress. So this definitely boosted my confidence a lot more in other terms.”
– Faaris
Supported by London Sport through the Tackling Inequalities Fund Burgess Sport provides vulnerable young Londoners access to Sport as well as other key elements to developing healthy habits for life.
Their Fit and Fed programme distributed meals to their participants, so that they could be properly fuelled to learn, play and enjoy the activities on offer.
“It’s helped me to get more confident in school and a lot of other things as well.”
– Abdul
Supported by London Sport, Core Sport has worked with over 800 adults who have specific mental health needs, using physical activity and sport to aid recovery.
The success of this approach to healthcare is evidenced by there being no hospital re-admissions of patients who partook in Core Sport since 2015.
“I’ve hugely benefitted from attending Core Sports physically, confidence-wise, my self esteem. I think it’s something that should be a staple in a community.”
– Andre
London Sport Awards winners Open Age runs dance classes and other activities to keep those over 50 physically active together.
The mental impact of physical activity has incredible benefits on the older participants, keeping challenging them and reducing isolation.
“It keeps you healthy, but more than anything, it keeps your mind active and in working order. It is good for everything.”
– Tish
Supported by London Sport through the Tackling Inequalities Fund, The Single Homeless Project uses sport and physical activity as a tool to aid the social integration of its participants.
Through physical activity either in group settings or 1-to-1 sessions, participants are given the chance to recover socially, mentally and physically from their experiences being homeless.
“It’s good to get out to different areas, and meet new people. It’s better than being on the streets!
– David
London Sport Awards 2021 finalist Warren King is a volunteer at Fulham Reach Boat Club and is dedicating his time to leading circuit sessions and bringing people together.
As an ex-prisoner, being part of a rowing club community transformed Warren’s life and helped him to believe in himself.
“It transformed my life, the way I look at myself, I view myself and what I could do in this world for others.”
– Warren
Caxton Youth Organisation, supported by London Sport through Together Fund, runs programmes to help young people with disabilities engage in physical activity.
Caxton Youth encourages collective initiatives with community organisations to ensure its members are not marginalised and can feel like confident members of society.
“One of those communities that’s trying to be a good example a youth club and wants to make London a better place.”
– Antonio
Space For Girls
The project aims to serve communities with low activity levels by transforming unused and non-traditional spaces into active hubs. Space for Girls is a research-led project, with extensive community voice involved within its planning. Consortia of local communities and teenage girls were consulted to ensure the activities on offer were of interest to the target audience, and that the location of the projects were deemed safe and accessible.
Lewisham CommUNITY Hub
There is a range of free activities on offer including yoga, dance, archery, table tennis, Zumba, boxing, and spin classes, as well as women-only sessions which have been created in consultation with local women and girls.
Crown Lane Primary
We purchased new footballs, goals and storage facilities for the equipment. For tennis we purchased new racquets, balls and nets.
From a football prospective aside from helping to keep pupils healthy, football can also improve children’s transferable skills such as ABC’s (agility, balance and coordination). As tennis is such a versatile sport, it’s also a great way to engage children of all fitness levels and instil good exercise habits for their future.
