Community sport fund to improve lives of young Londoners

^{Image credit: Grassrootsandbeyond.}

In September, applications will open for a further £2 million of funding for London community sports projects, as part of the Go! London fund – the biggest community sport fund in the capital. 

Since launching last year, Go! London has invested almost £5 million in over 130 grassroots sport and physical activity organisations. By December 2026, this initiative is aiming to provide over 60,000 underserved young Londoners with opportunities to engage in activities like cycling, skating, yoga, and cheerleading.

Go! London is a five-year, £19.5m partnership between the Mayor of London, London Marathon Foundation and Sport England, with strategic guidance from London Marathon Events and London Sport.

It supports community sport and physical activity initiatives, as well as investing directly in the next generation of leaders in the sector by supporting young social entrepreneurs. Beneficiaries of the Go! London fund will include children and young people aged 4-24 who have special education needs, are not in employment or education, refugees or asylum seekers, and come from low-income families and or those living in poverty.

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Sport can make an immense difference to the lives of young people, which is why I joined forces last year with our Go! London partners to create the biggest community sport fund in the capital.

“We have made huge strides in reducing the barriers to sport and physical activity, supporting thousands of underserved young Londoners to improve their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. This new £2m funding will enable us to go even further in our efforts to build a better, fairer London for all.” 

The announcement comes as the first Go! London Forum took place this week at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, welcoming up to 400 attendees - half of whom are young people - for a day of active learning with industry professionals, partners and key organisations.

Young people from underserved boroughs, as well as young entrepreneurs supported by the Go! London fund, were able to access skills development workshops and introductions to key industry partners including the NBA, NFL and Sweaty Betty.

Lisa Dodd-Mayne, executive director at Sport England, said: “Sport and activity can transform lives; it builds resilience, confidence, and boosts mental health. We want all young people – regardless of their background, bank balance or postcode – to have the chance to enjoy the incredible benefits of sport and activity.”