Winners of London Sport Awards 2024 revealed

The winners of the eighth London Sport Awards have been announced, with an app promoting physical and mental wellbeing and an initiative to improve access to football for girls among those picking up gongs.

The annual London Sport Awards celebrate volunteers, organisations, companies, charities and individuals who have gone above and beyond to improve the lives of Londoners through sport and physical activity.

Among the winners was Allan Cockram, who won the Volunteer of the Year Award, in association with Sport England. Allan, who makes football accessible to children with Down’s Syndrome, has run training sessions every week for over six years for all children from the age of five.

Allan’s club, the Brentford Penguins, has an open-door policy where no child is ever turned away, providing a safe and friendly environment to socialise, make friends and learn new skills.

The Digital and Tech Innovation Award was won by the LSBU Black Students Mental Health project. A collaborative effort between London South Bank University (LSBU), NHS GoodThinking, Univarsity, and The Office for Students, the project aims to address mental health disparities among black students in higher education.

Through the creation of the You + mobile application, co-developed with LSBU students, the initiative provides culturally competent resources, physical activity programs, and mental health support to proactively manage well-being. The project has engaged nearly 1000 students, 94% of whom initially identified as inactive, recording steady increases in activity trends.

Meanwhile, the Featherstone School Sport Partnership in Southall won the Supporting Young Londoners Award in association with Play Innovation​. The partnership engages with schools and improves equal access to football for girls in Ealing.

The full list of winners:

• Volunteer of the Year Award in association with Sport England​: Allan Cockram
• Health and Wellbeing Award in association with Sid Lee​: Mind in Croydon – Active Minds
• Lifetime Achievement Award in association with BBC Radio London: Simone Laidlow
• Supporting Young Londoners Award in association with Play Innovation​: Featherstone School Sport Partnership
• Business Contribution Award in association with the City of London Corporation​: Nike & Jordan
• Enhancing the Sporting Workforce Award: LTA Serves – Level Up London
• Uniting London Award in association with Opinium​: Sports Fun 4 All

Emily Robinson, Chief Executive of London Sport, said: “The London Sport Awards are always an incredible recognition of the efforts and achievements for those helping Londoners lead healthier and more active lives.

“I would like to congratulate all the nominees on their fantastic achievements in making sport and physical activity more accessible and inclusive to all. A special congratulations to our inspirational winners – our winners and finalists should be immensely proud of the work they have done and the contribution they’re making in improving lives.”