The London Marathon Charitable Trust has announced £7.8million is available in grants for 2020 to deliver its vision of inspiring activity and enabling people to become and remain physically active regardless of age, gender, ability, race or background.
The £7.8million will be split across the Trust’s two grant programmes:
- £5.2million for the Facilities Grants Programme to fund the building, renovation or modernisation of facilities in London and Surrey, where the charity’s trading subsidiary London Marathon Events operates. 'Small Grants' and 'Major Grants' are available from this programme, with the thresholds having recently increased. Small Grants are now £5,000 to £50,000 (increased from £5,000 to £20,000) and Major Grants are now £50,001 to £250,000 (increased from £20,001 to £150,000). The next deadline for applications for Facilities Grants is Wednesday 11 March.
- £2.6million for Strategic Partnerships Grants, which will allow The Trust to work proactively with organisations on ambitious projects that will challenge inequality of access to physical activity and deliver the greatest possible impact across the UK for children and young people, women and girls, BAME communities, people from lower socio-economic groups, older people, and disabled people. The Trust will announce the recipients of the Strategic Grants in the coming months.
This year the London Marathon celebrates its 40th race on April 26. The Trust’s work began after the race's founders, Chris Brasher and John Disley, ensured that the surplus from the Marathon and all future events organised by London Marathon Events were gifted to the Trust. Since 1981, it has awarded over £86million in grants to more than 1,400 projects.
Sir Rodney Walker, Chair of the London Marathon Charitable Trust, said: “The work of The Trust is continuing to go from strength to strength and we are delighted to announce that we have nearly £8million in 2020 to deliver our mission of inspiring activity.
“Over the next year we look forward to funding more inspiring projects that provide even more people with the opportunity to become and remain physically active.”
Some recent examples of projects supported by The Trust include:
Access Sport (below) was awarded a £845,000 Strategic Partnership Grant for a three-year programme that will deliver four new BMX tracks and clubs (two in Bristol and one each in Sheffield and Manchester) and support a network of 50 clubs nationally to engage 6,000 young people in cycling activities.
Southbank Undercroft - a grant of £200,000 supported the restoration of the world-famous skate space with free Skate School activities for children to encourage more children, especially young girls, to give skate sports a go for the first time.
Off-road cycling trails opened in Surrey Hills - a grant of £19,000 helped open up an extensive 80km network of off-road cycling trails in south-west Surrey.
For more information about the work of The Trust and how to apply for a grant, visit lmct.org.uk.
