Nearly £70k pumped into London projects to get kids moving again after Covid slumps!
London Sport Launches Fresh Funding Drive
London Sport is dishing out almost £70,000 from Sport England’s Satellite Club fund to boost activity among children and teens across the capital. This move aims to tackle the huge dip in youngsters’ fitness caused by Covid restrictions.
Those pandemic lockdowns hit hard. Inactivity among London kids jumped by 5.3% in 2019-20 compared to the previous year. Now, London Sport is fighting back.
New Projects Kick Off Despite Restrictions
After opening up funding last October, London Sport received 67 applications from groups keen to get 14-to-19-year-olds active again. Of those, 27 have been granted £69,471.50 to run fresh programmes.
Sports on offer include table tennis, martial arts, dance, and cycling. Many clubs are starting online due to ongoing Covid rules, with in-person sessions set to follow when safe.
Partners Step Up with Online Activity
London Sport’s teaming up with partners like 123 to develop exciting virtual programmes. This ensures young Londoners stay active and connected despite limits on face-to-face sessions.
Leaders Urge More Support for Kids’ Wellbeing
Lorna Leach, Satellite Clubs Project Lead at London Sport, said: “The decline in children’s activity revealed by Sport England was no surprise. We’ve worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to keep young people moving. “We were thrilled by the high number of funding applications and delighted to see online sessions already underway. “Getting children active is vital not just for their physical health, but also their mental wellbeing, helping to fight loneliness.”
As government rules ease, more exciting projects will launch, aiming to reverse the pandemic’s damaging impact on youth fitness in London.
