Go! London Pilots Open Innovation in Grassroots Sport, Backing 21 Initiatives for Climate Action and Inclusive Youth Spaces
Go! London Pilots Open Innovation in Grassroots Sport, Backing 21 Initiatives for Climate Action and Inclusive Youth Spaces
21 organisations across London will spend two months developing their ideas, with 6-12 initiatives set to receive funding of between £50,000 and £100,000 at the end of the programme.
London, [April 21, 2026] — Go! London has announced the finalists for its 2026 Open Innovation Challenges. The Challenges are grounded in the belief that when communities and decision-makers co-design solutions and share resources, physical activity and sport can become powerful tools for advancing equity, strengthening belonging, and building long-term resilience.
The 21 finalists, drawn from 174 initiatives and ideas across London, were selected for the strength of their ideas, innovative ideas, strong community connections, and their readiness to test their thinking in practice.
Helen Killingley, Head of Funding at the London Marathon Foundation and on behalf of Go! London, said:
“By supporting collaborative, co-designed ideas, Go! London is encouraging bold, practical solutions that truly meet the needs of communities and help build a more resilient, inclusive city. We’re looking forward to working with the finalists over the next two months as they test and strengthen their ideas, giving more underserved young Londoners the freedom to discover through sport and physical activity.”
Emily Robinson, Chief Executive at London Sport said:
“Through our work across London, we’ve seen that one of the biggest opportunities to get more young people active is rethinking the spaces around them - spaces where they live, shop or come together – it’s crucial that they feel welcomed and safe to better support movement and play.
The Go! London Innovation Challenge is a great example of what’s possible when ideas are shaped with communities, not just for them. By backing co-designed, place-based solutions, this programme is helping to unlock new ways of creating opportunities that genuinely reflect the needs of young Londoners.
We’re excited to see how this develops over the coming months, and how together we can continue to reimagine London’s spaces to make being active a normal part of everyday life”.
Each finalist will take part in a two-month capacity-building programme designed to help them refine their solution, build partnerships, and test their ideas with experts in the field. Following this capacity-building phase, finalists will present their work to a panel of expert judges from Ashoka, Go! London and the programme’s partners. At the close of the programme, 6 to 12 winners will receive funding of up to £100,000 each.
Kelly Davies, Ashoka UK Director, said:
"We’re incredibly inspired by the cohort of finalists, each of whom brings solutions designed by and for their local communities. It is especially encouraging to see a strong emphasis on co-designing and co-decision making with young people, with many of these ideas shaped alongside those they aim to support and empower. Over the next two months, we will be supporting them in learning from one another, strengthening their ideas, and collaborating to drive long-lasting change. "
This challenge invited applications from initiatives that build climate awareness and drive meaningful action, or those that adapt how physical activity is delivered to be more environmentally responsible and climate-resilient. The 11 finalists are:
- Architects of the Future: Greener Pathways by Pledgeball
- Clean Kicks - South London by Rio Ferdinand Foundation
- Heat Safe Summer Sport by London Borough of Lambeth ‚ Libraries and Archives Service
- I Can Hear the Ants Dancin by Three Rivers / Peabody Trust
- Paddlers for the Planet Protecting: protecting access to safe sport through youth-led climate action by Leaside
- LENS: London Evidence Network through Sport by Common Purpose Charitable Trust
- Sustainable Tottenham by Tottenham Hotspur Foundation
- The Resilient Pitch: Hackney by Life's a Pitch Projects
- Empowering London's grassroots football community for climate action: London FA & Football For Future by London Football Association
- Movement for Change: Youth-Led Climate Action Through Physical Activity and Volunteering by The Good Gym
- Power Play by Energy Garden
Reimagining Spaces for Sport and Play
This challenge sought initiatives that unlock, share, or reimagine community spaces, making physical activity safer and more inclusive for children and young people, while enabling more accessible and collaborative use of these spaces across communities. The 10 finalists are:
- The Hive by Sands End Arts & Community Centre (SEACC)
- Never in a Million Years by London Borough of Waltham Forest
- Young Street Builders by Walk Wheel Cycle Trust (formerly Sustrans)
- Girls Allowed by ESP Foundation
- The Airbnb of Sport by Active Meanwhile Limited
- Unlocking the Dock, Reimagining Royal Docks for Youth Sport, Safety and Employment by Atlantic Pacific International Rescue Ltd
- George Shearing Active Inclusion Hub by Wandsworth Borough Council
- People Powered Playces by London Play
- The Nomadic Playground by Hammersmith and Fulham Council
- Shared Spaces: An Inclusive Place-Based Network of Practice and Pathways for Movement and Belonging by Oval Learning Cluster
About Go! London
Go! London is the capital’s biggest ever community sport fund, from the Mayor of London, London Marathon Foundation and Sport England. The fund was established as part of a groundbreaking partnership between City Hall, London Marathon Foundation and Sport England, with each partner providing £7.5m respectively, and supported by London Sport and London Marathon Events, to harness the power of sport and physical activity to improve young Londoners’ lives.
The partnership aims to invest at least £12m into grassroots sport and physical activity initiatives by 2027. Go! London uses sport to improve not only physical health for young people, but also social outcomes - such as mental wellbeing, safety, employability, and community relationships - for young people.
About Ashoka
Ashoka is a global network of social entrepreneurs, with nearly 4,000 Fellows across more than 90 countries. Ashoka Changemakers is its open innovation platform, having run over 110 challenges worldwide. Ashoka co-delivers the Go! London Open Innovation Challenges, supporting finalists through peer learning and expert mentorship.
About Play Verto
Play Verto is a leader in designing gamified, data-driven engagement experiences that empower young people, amplify their voices, and drive systemic change. With 15 years of experience working with stakeholders across ecosystems, Play Verto specialises in creating interactive experiences that surface authentic insights, guiding decision-makers in shaping more inclusive and effective policies and programs.
Media Contact
Jedidah Muthui, Digital Content Manager, Ashoka
[email protected]