Community Sport Update

Date posted 15 Sep 2026

Enfield Host Second Successful GSF Event in collaboaration with Active Enfield.

Enfield’s sporting community came together in record numbers to celebrate the achievements of local athletes at the 2026 GLL Sport Foundation Awards Evening, held in partnership with the borough’s London Youth Games finalists. Hosted at the beautiful Forty Hall Banqueting Suite, the event welcomed an impressive 184 guests, making it one of the largest and most successful celebrations of sport and physical activity ever delivered through the programmes in Enfield. The audience included GLL Sport Foundation athletes, London Youth Games medallists and coaches, local dignitaries, partners, colleagues, friends and family members, all gathered to recognise the dedication, commitment and achievements of local sporting talent.

This year, the GLL Sport Foundation is supporting 55 athletes from across Enfield, representing 15 different sports. Of those receiving support, 86% receive no other central funding, while 78% are under the age of 21 and more than a third are aged under 16. The total value of awards provided to Enfield athletes this year is £37,950. The evening began with an energetic dance performance by students from Winchmore School, who welcomed guests with a compilation showcase in the courtyard. The event was then formally opened by Sabrina Forde, Community Sports Manager, and Grace Alleyne, Youth Sport Manager for Enfield Council, who welcomed guests and highlighted the importance of continued investment in grassroots sport and athlete development.

Opening remarks were made from Councillor Maria Alexandriou on the value of sport and partnership working within local communities. Seven Enfield teams were recognised for winning gold and silver medals at this year’s London Youth Games, with awards presented as part of a segment introduced by Geoff Thompson MBE. A standout moment was a live Q&A with former Tottenham Hotspur captain and England international Ledley King, hosted by Dominic Hall and Enfield’s LYG33 Youth Ambassador Ben Davies, who discussed leadership, resilience and achieving long-term goals. Attended by a range of distinguished guests from Enfield Council, London Youth Games, GLL and partner organisations, the event attracted record attendance and showcased inspiring stories and outstanding achievements, reinforcing Enfield’s reputation as a borough where sporting talent can thrive.

Enfield Host Several Councillor visits across the partnership.

Following the 2026 Enfield Local Elections, which saw a change in council leadership and a significant intake of new councillors, the Enfield Partnership welcomed councillors into centre to strengthen relationships and raise awareness of the vital role leisure centres play in supporting health, wellbeing within Enfield. Visits to Albany, Edmonton, Southgate and Southbury Leisure Centres provided opportunities to showcase facility performance, community programmes, investment plans and future development opportunities, while also gathering valuable feedback from elected members. Councillors praised the quality of facilities, strong levels of community participation and the breadth of activities available, and discussions explored areas including health and wellbeing initiatives, centre improvements, regeneration opportunities and future partnership working. The programme has already generated positive feedback and commitments from councillors to help promote local services and collaborate on initiatives that encourage residents to be more active, connected and healthy.

Summer Programme starts in July.

The summer programme in Enfield got underway in July, offering a fantastic range of activities for local children and families to enjoy throughout the school holidays.The ‘small wins, big summer’ campaign launched with a variety of sessions, including the much-loved Kids Swim for £1 initiative, giving young people the opportunity to stay active and build confidence in the water at an affordable price. Families have also been making the most of Family Fun Swimming and inflatable pool sessions, which have provided plenty of fun and entertainment for all ages. Additional junior gym sessions alongside junior specific programmes have also been added to timetables to further diversify the summer offering. So far, the programme already seen a great response from residents and continues to provide affordable, enjoyable activities that encourage health, wellbeing and family fun throughout the summer months.

CSM Invited to speak on voice of Islam radio.

The CSM had the privilege of being invited as a guest on the national radio station Voice of Islam for its live programme, “Sporty Summer: From Spectator to Player.” The appearance provided an excellent platform to discuss the positive impact of sport and physical activity in supporting young people, building confidence, and promoting healthy, active lifestyles during the summer months. During the discussion, the CSM shared insights on how individuals and families can become more active over the summer, as well as strategies for overcoming common barriers to exercise, such as low motivation and lack of confidence. The programme also highlighted the wide range of activities and initiatives available across Better leisure centres, designed to help people of all ages stay active

Partnership hosts successful national open weekend.

The National Open Weekend hosted across Enfield centres in line with the GLL estate welcomed 286 attendees across the partnership, with residents taking part in a wide range of taster sessions, family activities, and community engagement opportunities. A total of 186 of the 200 available bookable spaces were filled, with Adult and Child Gym Tasters proving particularly popular alongside gym taster sessions, fitness masterclasses, and foundation water safety sessions. Visitors also enjoyed a variety of non bookable activities, including soft play, bouncy castle sessions, face painting, arts and crafts, toddler sports activities, basketball, football, martial arts tasters, and CPR training, attracting a further 110 participants. Community partners and stallholders, including POW Speech and Language Therapy, Gorilla Nutrilla, and local karate clubs, helped showcase opportunities available within the borough. Families praised the variety of free activities on offer, while staff highlighted the strong partnership working that contributed to the event’s success. Although attendance was lower than initially anticipated due to a shorter promotional period and the timing at the start of the summer holidays, the event generated positive feedback, encouraged community participation, and delivered strong sales across the weekend.

Edmonton welcome commonwealth Games Mascot to centre.

In support of the Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2026, GLL partnered with Team England to deliver the exciting Commonwealth Games Mascot Relay, a workforce and community engagement initiative designed to build excitement for the Games across the country. The relay saw the official Games mascot, Finne, travel more than 1,000 miles across 40 partnerships and 45 centres, journeying from Cornwall to some of GLL’s most northern locations. On Wednesday 29th July, Finne visited Edmonton Leisure Centre, where it explored the local area, met staff, and helped raise awareness of the upcoming Games before continuing to Waltham Forest Feel Good Centre for the next stage of its journey.