Legacy project is named as finalist in London Sports Awards

A partnership project which encouraged people to develop a lifelong love of swimming and aquatics following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games has been shortlisted for an award.

Swim England, Swim England London Region, Everyone Active, Fusion Lifestyle, Enfield Council and the Greater London Authority all worked together on the London Legacy Project.

The Mayor of London’s Sport Unites Fund provided £20,000 to support the roll out of three engagement initiatives in some of the most deprived boroughs in the capital.

It enabled almost 100 children to receive free swimming lessons as well as help 20 youngsters receive bursaries to become teachers or coaches.

Now the project has been named as a finalist in the Supporting Young Londoners category at the London Sport Awards.

More than 350 nominations were received for the London Sports Awards and the winners will be announced during a ceremony at London’s Guildhall on Thursday 23 March, 2023.

Stephanie Gadd, Swim England programmes officer for growth, said: “We are thrilled to be named as finalists for the Supporting Young Londoners Award. 

Recognise everyone’s contribution

“The aim of the London Legacy Project was to encourage young Londoners to develop a lifelong love of swimming and aquatics.  

“We supported nearly 100 children from deprived boroughs with free swimming lessons and helped more than 20 young people to train as new swim teachers and coaches.  

“This was very much a project built on partnerships so it is fantastic to recognise everyone’s contribution.”

The London Legacy Project aimed to engage ethnically diverse communities to help reduce social isolation, improve wellbeing and get people more active.

Organisations including Haringey Aquatics, Aqua Vision, HR Sports Academy, Samafal, Phoenix Community Care, The Engine Room and Haringey Council also played key roles in helping the project achieve its goals.

The Supporting Young Londoners Award celebrates the outstanding work of individuals and organisations who are providing young people under the age of 25 with the best opportunity to live a physically active life.

Whether in school or within the community, the award celebrates those initiatives that are having significant impact on supporting young people to enjoy the benefits of physical activity and sport.