“City Bridge Foundation’s support has been invaluable"
- Sophie Epsley, Senior Development Manager

Over the last three years, City Bridge Foundation, London’s biggest independent charity funder, has supported Access Sport to reshape disability-inclusive community sport across the capital. 

This partnership will continue for the next two years and will reach new boroughs and more young people than ever before.

Working across three London boroughs, our Changing Places London work has provided underserved young people, who often do not have the same opportunities as their peers, access to the life-changing benefits of community sport.

To date, our partnership with City Bridge Foundation has:

• Supported 15 clubs to deliver new inclusive activities
• Engaged 963 disabled and disadvantaged young people in regular exercise
• Upskilled 147 coaches and volunteers.

A new report released by the Childhood Trust has revealed escalating poverty among disabled children across the UK because of the cost-of-living crisis¹ and it is reported that four in every 10 disabled children in London are in poverty². The need for inclusive sport that is local, low cost, safe, accessible, and welcoming to all has never been clearer. 

That’s why we would like to take this opportunity to thank the City Bridge Foundation for their support.

Without their generosity, we would not be able to provide London’s young people with access to a range of inclusive activities, including hula hooping, taekwondo, athletics and yoga.

By collaborating with City Bridge Foundation, we have also built meaningful partnerships with the health, education and disability sectors so that inclusive sport in each borough is cohesive and truly meaningful for young people.

This support has also allowed us to lead the Southwark and Lewisham Disability Sports Networks, bringing together the Local Authorities, London Sport and key partners who play a pivotal role in delivering inclusive provision.

Sophie Epsley, Senior Development Manager, said:
“City Bridge Foundation’s support has been invaluable. Through this partnership, we have been able to make a tangible impact on the lives of disadvantaged and disabled young people throughout the London boroughs. We couldn’t be more grateful. Thank you!”

Going forward we are excited to support new community clubs, reaching out to the disabled young people and their families in each of the boroughs and collaborating with a variety of different partners.

Over the next two years, we also plan on expanding our tried and tested approach to the boroughs of Lambeth, Tower Hamlets and Newham, empowering 800 disabled young people to be active and upskilling 100 coaches and volunteers.

Interested in learning more about how we are promoting long-term change in London's inclusive community sport space?
Changing Places - London

About City Bridge Foundation

City Bridge Foundation is a world-class bridge owner responsible for five Thames crossings – including the iconic Tower Bridge – and London’s biggest independent charity funder. It awards over £30 million a year in grants to charitable organisations across London and has made a further £200 million available over the five years to 2026 to support the capital’s charity sector. City Bridge Foundation has been bridging London and connecting communities for over 900 years. Its sole trustee is the City of London Corporation – the governing body for the Square Mile. 

 

References:

¹ The impact of the cost-of-living crisis on children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, Childhood Trust, 2023

² London Child Poverty Report, The Childhood Trust, 2023