London Marathon Foundation - Active Spaces Fund

Background

Since its founding in 1981, The London Marathon Foundation has awarded over £88 million to over 1,400 projects in and beyond London. The Foundation currently supports organisations and communities in London by providing capital grants to inspire and increase the numbers of people regularly taking part in sports and physical activities.

The Foundation's mission is to "help make available high-quality, accessible and affordable facilities for sport and physical activity in the areas in which London Marathon Events Limited organises mass-participation sporting events".

On 21 February 2023, the London Marathon Charitable Trust was renamed the London Marathon Foundation as part of a rebrand of the charity designed to extend its funding reach and impact.

Objectives of Fund

This fund aims to support projects that enable children, young people, and underserved groups across London to be more active and lead healthy lives. This can include capital funding to help build or renovate spaces, places, and facilitates, and revenue funding to deliver sports and physical activities at these sites.

Value Notes

Grants of £10,000 to £80,000 are available.

Who Can Apply

Applications will be accepted from the following:

• Community and voluntary sector organisations.
• Community enterprises.
• Educational establishments.
• Faith centres.
• Local authorities.
• Registered charities.
• Schools or statutory bodies.
• Sports clubs.
• Unincorporated associations.

All projects need to take place at spaces, places and facilities that will be open to all the community to use.

Due to limited funding, priority will be given to organisations that:

• Enable the least active children, young people and underserved groups and communities to lead active and healthy lives.
• Take place in areas of greatest need, for example, areas with fewer spaces, places and facilities for sports and physical activity or where communities are likely to be affected by high levels of deprivation.
• Are delivered by organisations with a close connection to the community they want to support.
• Will improve and activate spaces, places and facilities beyond the funding period.

Location

London

Restrictions

The following are not eligible for funding:

• Individuals.
• Profit-making organisations.
• Purchasing vehicles.

Eligible Expenditure

The fund can support a range of activities and projects including team sports, individual activities and other ways of being active like playing, dancing, walking and gardening.

Grants could cover capital and/or revenue projects, including building or renovating facilities, purchasing new or replacement equipment, venue hire, new/extended staff posts, coaching costs, and salaries.

Capital costs should be spent and claimed within two years while revenue costs can be spent and claimed for one, two or three years.

How To Apply

A two-stage application process has been introduced for 2024:

• Stage one Expressions of Interest can be submitted at any time throughout the year with notification of decisions within 15 working days.
• Stage two – groups with successful Expressions of Interest will be invited to submit a full application.

There are three deadlines for full applications in 2024:

• 19 April 2024 (outcome communicated by 30 June 2024)
• 5 July 2024 (outcome communicated by 30 September 2024)
• 13 September 2024 (outcome communicated by 20 December 2024)

The guidelines and FAQs can be found on the London Marathon Foundation website.