Go! London, the capital’s biggest ever community sport fund, has celebrated one year of success by launching a new programme to help even more Londoners get active and enjoy sport and physical activity.
The fund is a five-year, £19.5 million partnership between us, the Mayor of London and the London Marathon Foundation.
We committed £7.5m of National Lottery money to the partnership, as it aligns with one of the key issues in our Uniting the Movement strategy: to create positive experiences of sport and activity for children and young people.
Its new Young Entrepreneurs programme is supporting young people to develop business ideas that aim to improve Londoners’ access to sport and physical activity.
To mark its first year the programme hosted a ‘Dragons’ Den’-style competition at London Stadium, where 12 young entrepreneurs aged 16-24 presented ideas to a judging panel.
Ten ideas were selected in principle for the year-long programme with support from the School for Social Entrepreneurs, receiving grants of £15,000 each.
Their ideas will be brought to life across communities, helping people from low-income families, ethnically diverse communities and disabled Londoners to access sport and physical activity across the capital.
“What a fantastic way to celebrate one year of success of Go! London,” said Lisa Dodd-Mayne, our executive director of place.
“We’re so proud to support Go! London and play a part in changing the lives of underserved and vulnerable young Londoners through sport and physical activity.
“We want every child and young person to experience the enjoyment and benefits that being active can bring.
“Together with our partners, we’ve invested, and will continue to invest, in the capital’s grassroots sport and physical activity sector to make sport, and the many benefits it brings, accessible to all so that the most disadvantaged young Londoners can fulfil their potential.”
The focus of the successful projects include:
- Tackling the issues Muslim and Black Asian minority ethnic women face in football and providing an accessible space for all women to play. They aim to make money through funding, sponsorship and clothing.
- A sustainable activewear and printing brand, working with local young people and mentoring them in printing.
- Positively impacting the community through planned community walks, particularly geared towards young Muslim women. These walks aren’t only an opportunity for individuals to connect with nature but also serve as a platform for fostering good mental wellbeing.
- Creating a safe space for women above the age of 12 to learn boxing and muay Thai as a way of self-defence.
- Running football camps for those who can’t afford to pay, raising money for the cost of pitch time through sponsorship.
- Creating a safe space and teaching football and basketball sessions to 7-11-year-olds who are struggling with the pressure of the secondary school environment.
- Removing barriers and tackling social isolation for young people through an app that helps connect those trying new activities or arranging matches.
- Building a digital marketplace which allows young people facing financial barriers to list itemised requests for equipment or small pockets of financial aid, ranging from football boots or support to cover travel costs. Local organisations and small businesses can become sponsors through donating the items directly or providing small-scale sponsorships.
- Creating sportswear that’s sustainable, affordable and inclusive of different body sizes and is modest through upcycling.
https://www.sportengland.org/news-and-inspiration/go-london-fund-entrepreneurs-competition
