Created in 1981 by London Marathon co-founders Chris Brasher and John Disley, the London Marathon Foundation is the parent charity of London Marathon Events (organisers of the TCS London Marathon), and one of the UK’s major funders of initiatives that support people to lead active and healthy lives.
Recognising that being active looks different for everyone, the Foundation funds a wide range of inclusive sports and physical activities – from boxing to wheelchair basketball, street dance to seated exercise classes and play to Pilates – in London and across the UK.
Last year was a recording breaking year for the Foundation, awarding its highest amount of funding in a single year (with £8.25 million awarded to more than 150 new projects) and reaching a monumental funding milestone of £100 million awarded since 1981, all to support its vision of Inspiring Activity. Funding highlights from 2023 include:
Forging a new development partnership with junior parkrun – awarding £1.19 million to enable an additional 300,000 children in areas of deprivation across the UK to take part in new and existing junior parkrun events by 2026, which will support the health and wellbeing of future generations.
Awarding more than £4.3 million to more than 130 projects across 29 London Boroughs through the Active Spaces Fund – supporting children, young people and underserved communities in London to be active. Funded projects include Age UK Westminster’s weekly dance classes and group walks for older residents, London Basketball Association’s free basketball sessions which engaged more than 60 underserved and inactive young people in Tower Hamlets, and activity sessions including yoga, ballet and kung-fu/self-defence classes at the London LGBTQ+ Community Centre in Southwark.
Funding its first ever project in Brighton (thanks to London Marathon Events’ takeover of the Brighton Marathon Weekend in December 2022) – awarding £250,000 to the Brighton Table Tennis Club to set up a brand-new community sports facility, designed to be a centre for parasports, in Moulsecoomb, Brighton.
Collaborating with the Mayor of London, Sport England, London Marathon Events and London Sport on Go! London – the biggest community sports fund in the capital. In 2023, more than £2.3 million was awarded to inspire activity for underserved young Londoners aged four to 24, and estimated to help 24,000 young Londoners fulfil their potential by improving their physical and mental wellbeing, safety, employability and connections to their communities.
Moving forwards, the Foundation’s ambition is to be recognised both as an impactful funder – supporting millions more people to be active for decades to come – and as a leading voice for change in the sport and physical activity for development sector, championing groups who need the most support in leading active lives.
Funding is currently available through the Active Spaces Fund, designed for projects that will improve and activate spaces, places and facilities in London that will help the least active children, young people and underserved communities to participate in activities.
You can find out more about the Foundation and how to apply for funding here.
London Marathon Foundation is the operating name of The London Marathon Charitable Trust, a registered charity (283813) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (01550741). Its registered office is 190 Great Dover Street, London, SE1 4YB.
Recognising that being active looks different for everyone, the Foundation funds a wide range of inclusive sports and physical activities – from boxing to wheelchair basketball, street dance to seated exercise classes and play to Pilates – in London and across the UK.
Last year was a recording breaking year for the Foundation, awarding its highest amount of funding in a single year (with £8.25 million awarded to more than 150 new projects) and reaching a monumental funding milestone of £100 million awarded since 1981, all to support its vision of Inspiring Activity. Funding highlights from 2023 include:
Forging a new development partnership with junior parkrun – awarding £1.19 million to enable an additional 300,000 children in areas of deprivation across the UK to take part in new and existing junior parkrun events by 2026, which will support the health and wellbeing of future generations.
Awarding more than £4.3 million to more than 130 projects across 29 London Boroughs through the Active Spaces Fund – supporting children, young people and underserved communities in London to be active. Funded projects include Age UK Westminster’s weekly dance classes and group walks for older residents, London Basketball Association’s free basketball sessions which engaged more than 60 underserved and inactive young people in Tower Hamlets, and activity sessions including yoga, ballet and kung-fu/self-defence classes at the London LGBTQ+ Community Centre in Southwark.
Funding its first ever project in Brighton (thanks to London Marathon Events’ takeover of the Brighton Marathon Weekend in December 2022) – awarding £250,000 to the Brighton Table Tennis Club to set up a brand-new community sports facility, designed to be a centre for parasports, in Moulsecoomb, Brighton.
Collaborating with the Mayor of London, Sport England, London Marathon Events and London Sport on Go! London – the biggest community sports fund in the capital. In 2023, more than £2.3 million was awarded to inspire activity for underserved young Londoners aged four to 24, and estimated to help 24,000 young Londoners fulfil their potential by improving their physical and mental wellbeing, safety, employability and connections to their communities.
Moving forwards, the Foundation’s ambition is to be recognised both as an impactful funder – supporting millions more people to be active for decades to come – and as a leading voice for change in the sport and physical activity for development sector, championing groups who need the most support in leading active lives.
Funding is currently available through the Active Spaces Fund, designed for projects that will improve and activate spaces, places and facilities in London that will help the least active children, young people and underserved communities to participate in activities.
You can find out more about the Foundation and how to apply for funding here.
London Marathon Foundation is the operating name of The London Marathon Charitable Trust, a registered charity (283813) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (01550741). Its registered office is 190 Great Dover Street, London, SE1 4YB.