London Marathon Foundation Awards £2.3m for Community Sport London 2026

Key Points

• The London Marathon Foundation has awarded more than £2.3 million through its Active Spaces Fund since October 2025 to improve sports spaces and facilities for children, young people, and underserved communities in London.
• This brings the Foundation’s total funding since 1981 to £120 million.
• Funding stems from surplus profits of London Marathon Events, organisers of the TCS London Marathon on 26 April 2026.
• 85% of 2025 TCS London Marathon participants reported feeling happier, and 80% of spectators felt inspired to be more active (Sheffield Hallam University, 2026).
• Projects include family fitness at Hawksmoor Youth Hub in Greenwich and Stebondale Pitch transformation in Tower Hamlets, near the Marathon route.
• Amid a £1.5 billion budget gap for London councils in 2026-27 (London Councils, 2025), the Foundation supports all 32 boroughs, with 17 benefiting recently.
• Key projects: new sports hall at Selby Centre (Haringey, £500,000), MUGA in Mountsfield Park (Lewisham), boxing gym at The Pedro Club (Hackney, £400,000).
• 26 projects total, covering inclusive activities like walk-and-talk for sanctuary seekers, disability swimming, and dance for older people.
• Derek Williams, Chair of The Pedro Club, praised the funding as transformative.
• Hannah Dye, Head of Programmes at Breathe Arts Health Research, thanked the Foundation for supporting fall-prevention dance programmes.
• Mike Diaper, Group Funding and Impact Director, noted £11 million awarded since 2022, engaging 79,000+ Londoners; £14 million planned for 2026.
• Full list spans 17 boroughs plus pan-London, with grants from £17,000 to £500,000.

London (Extra London News) April 23, 2026 – The London Marathon Foundation has disbursed over £2.3 million in its latest Active Spaces Fund round since October 2025, bolstering community sport and physical activity across the capital. This investment enhances spaces for children, young people, and underserved groups, pushing the Foundation’s lifetime total to £120 million since 1981. Funded by profits from London Marathon Events, organisers of the TCS London Marathon set for 26 April, the grants underscore the event’s year-round impact.

What Powers This Latest Funding Round?

The funding flows directly from London Marathon Events, the Foundation’s events arm behind the TCS London Marathon. As reported in the Foundation’s official announcement, surplus profits are channelled as corporate Gift Aid to sustain community initiatives.

A Sheffield Hallam University study (2026) revealed that 85% of 2025 Marathon participants felt happier post-training and running,

while 80% of spectators reported inspiration to get active. This “feel-good power” of sport extends beyond the finish line, with two projects—Hawksmoor Youth Hub in Greenwich and Stebondale Pitch in Millwall Park, Tower Hamlets—located along the Marathon route to embed lasting health benefits in local areas.

Why Are Alternative Funds Crucial Amid Budget Pressures?

London faces a stark £1.5 billion annual budget shortfall for local government in 2026-27, as estimated by London Councils (2025). With public resources stretched, alternative sources like the Foundation’s grants prove vital to safeguard low-cost or free sport access, especially for less affluent residents. Every London borough has received Foundation support historically, and 17 have gained from Active Spaces in the last six months alone.

Capital projects include a new sports hall at the Selby Centre in Haringey, a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) in Mountsfield Park, Lewisham, and refurbished facilities plus a new boxing gym at The Pedro Club in Hackney.

Derek Williams, Chair of The Pedro Club, stated:

“This amazing capital funding will allow us to create a modern, fit-for-purpose, inclusive space that will inspire people of all ages to engage in sport, improve their health and wellbeing, and build confidence. Together with our other funders (Hackney Council and Sport England), this is a transformative investment in the future of our club and the community that we have continued to serve for almost 100 years. The refurbished facilities will not only honour our legacy heritage but will also ensure we continue to change the lives of generations for years to come.”

Which Projects Promote Inclusivity for All Ages and Abilities?

The 26 announced projects foster diverse, inclusive activities uniting communities through sport. Highlights encompass walk-and-talk sessions for sanctuary seekers in Battersea Park (Wandsworth), weekly swimming for people with disabilities in Lambeth and Southwark, and a rehabilitative dance-exercise programme for older people at Guy’s Hospital in Southwark.

Hannah Dye, Head of Programmes at Breathe Arts Health Research, said:

“We’re so thankful to the London Marathon Foundation for supporting our work. This fantastic support will enable us to collaborate directly with physiotherapists to embed a motivating and empowering dance-based physiotherapy programme for older adults at risk of falls. Our programme will inspire and encourage them to continue moving safely at home and in their daily living, improving overall independence.”

Mike Diaper, Group Funding and Impact Director at the London Marathon Foundation, remarked:

“Since launching in December 2022, our Active Spaces Fund has awarded more than £11 million, engaging more than 79,000 underserved Londoners into physical activity – and the projects being announced today will enable thousands more to benefit. Thanks to the continued growth and innovation of London Marathon Events, we’re fortunate to see our funding increase – but we also know that the level of need is rapidly rising. We’re committed to using our funding where it can have the greatest impact: protecting and expanding access to community sport and physical activity, to support the health and wellbeing of children, young people and underserved communities for years to come.”

This year marks the Foundation’s largest funding push, with £14 million earmarked for London and UK-wide activity initiatives.

What Is the Full List of Funded Projects by Borough?

London Borough of Brent

M.E.M Academy received £80,000 to run boxing sessions for inactive young people in Brent and Ealing.

London Borough of Bromley

Bromley FC Community Sports Trust got £45,000 for new LED floodlights at their community football pitch. Harris Primary Academy Crystal Palace secured £17,000 for a free two-year ballet project for primary-aged children, partnering with NXT Ladder Up.

London Borough of Camden

Henna Asian Women’s Group was awarded £80,000 for movement classes targeting elderly South Asian women. Queen’s Crescent Community Association received £69,000 for the ‘Healthy Families’ sports and fitness programme.

London Borough of Ealing

W4 Youth Limited obtained £62,000 for a junior coach training programme and extra sessions at Southfield Recreation Ground.

Royal Borough of Greenwich

Charlton Athletic Community Trust gained £60,000 for a family health and fitness programme at Hawksmoor Youth Hub.

London Borough of Hackney

The Pedro Club received £400,000 to refurbish its community boxing gym and sports facilities. Hoxton Hall got £52,000 for the ‘Life Lift’ programme of low-intensity dance and movement for older people.

London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham

Community Cycleworks CIC was funded £51,000 for cycling sessions at Wormwood Scrubs BMX track and BikeFix workshops for underserved youth.

London Borough of Haringey

The Selby Trust secured £500,000 for a new sports hall at the Selby Centre. Wave Muswell Hill CIO received £65,000 to expand ‘Active Together’, offering adapted activities for people with learning disabilities and families.

London Borough of Hounslow

Intergenerational Music Making got £45,000 for ‘Active Rhythms’, blending low-impact movement and music for children and older people. C-Change West London received £42,000 for free inclusive physical activities for children and youth.

London Borough of Islington

Islington Council was awarded £36,300 to refurbish the MUGA at Pakeman Primary School for weekly community activities.

London Borough of Lambeth

WeSwim CIC obtained £96,000 for weekly swimming sessions for people with disabilities in Lambeth and Southwark.

London Borough of Lewisham

Lewisham Council received £43,000 to refurbish a MUGA in Mountsfield Park. BlindAid got £38,000 for sight-guided yoga for blind and visually impaired adults.

London Borough of Newham

Subco Trust secured £78,000 for accessible, culturally appropriate activities for South Asian older people and carers. The SLM Community Leisure Charitable Trust received £74,000 to upgrade two Pool Pods at London Aquatics Centre for independent pool access by those with disabilities. Curious by Nature London CIC got £22,000 for forest school activities in Beckton Woods to promote outdoor play.

London Borough of Southwark

Breathe Arts Health Research CIC was funded £48,000 for the rehabilitative dance programme at Guy’s Hospital.

London Borough of Tower Hamlets

London Borough of Tower Hamlets received £150,000 to transform Stebondale Pitch in Millwall Park into a 3G floodlit 9v9 pitch.

London Borough of Wandsworth

English for Action London got £36,300 for walk-and-talk classes for migrants and sanctuary seekers in Battersea Park.

London Borough of Westminster

London Borough of Westminster secured £100,000 for capital projects reducing health inequalities, including two refurbished MUGAs in Queen’s Park Gardens and a new outdoor gym in Church Street.

Pan London

Chance to Shine received £80,000 for a Street Cricket programme at 10 clubs across London.

These grants, detailed comprehensively from the Foundation’s announcement, target grassroots impact amid rising needs. As London prepares for the TCS London Marathon, this £2.3 million infusion signals sustained commitment to equitable sport access.