Community Sport & Health Update
GLL Sport Foundation Awards Evening 2026
On Wednesday 24th June, Barnet Copthall Leisure Centre hosted the 2026 annual GLL Sports Foundation Awards (GSF) evening to celebrate and welcome Barnet based athletes onto the programme.
In Barnet, GSF is supporting 91 athletes this year with the variety of awards ranging from Training, Achievement, Talent and Ambassador. GSF supports athletes with financial bursaries, mental wellbeing support, memberships and physiotherapy to help athletes with the cost of preparing and competing for national and international competitions. The awards evening was a great opportunity to present the athletes with their official certificates and to celebrate their successes over the past year.
A summary of the GSF programme in Barnet this year is as follows;
- 91 athletes supported.
- £67,250 worth of support value.
- 87% of athletes receive no other funding.
- 66% of athletes supported are under the age of 21.
- 28% of athletes supported are under the age of 16.
- 27 different sports supported.
The awards evening was very well attended with 80 attendees present, including 30 athletes, as well as a special guest, the Deputy Mayor of Barnet, Councillor Humayune Khalick. On the evening, GSF athlete Grit Tokley delivered a Wushu performance, entertaining the crowd.
There was a selection of food, drink and snacks for the attendees to enjoy during the break. The athletes got to listen to GSF Ambassador Justin Levene and GSF athlete Gemma Peterman take part in a Q&A session to discuss how GSF has helped them achieve their sporting dreams and pass advice onto other athletes in attendance.
Love Live Project at Burnt Oak Library
The first six week Better Balance programme at Burnt Oak Library has now successfully concluded, making a positive mark to ensuring older residents to stay active, confident and independent.
Delivered by Barnet Health Referral Coordinator, Billy Phillips, as part of the library's Loving Life initiative, the programme welcomed residents aged 55 and over for weekly sessions focusing on falls prevention, balance, strength and increasing physical activity in line with the Chief Medical Officer's guidelines.
The programme began with 10 participants, all of whom completed a Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) and received a blood pressure check, supporting OHID London's Million Hearts and Minds initiative, of which GLL is a pioneer organisation.
Throughout the six weeks, participants demonstrated improved confidence, mobility and understanding of how regular physical activity can help reduce the risk of falls. The programme also provided a valuable pathway into wider leisure opportunities, with participants encouraged to continue their activity journey through local services, including Healthwise where appropriate.
Following the success of the pilot, plans are already underway to deliver the Better Balance programme in additional libraries across the borough, with Finchley Church End Library set to host the next programme later this year. The project continues to demonstrate the value of partnership working in bringing accessible health and wellbeing support into local community spaces.