London Youth Games

What London Youth Games does

London Youth Games is a UK-registered non-profit charity (charity number 1048705; company number 02039817) founded in 1977 and headquartered in London. It delivers Europe's largest annual youth multi-sport event, operating five core programme pillars: Open Games, School Games, LYG33, GamesForce, and Inclusive Coaches. The organisation engages approximately 160,000 young Londoners aged 7-17 annually across all 33 London boroughs, with more than 10,000 young people competing in the flagship Open Games event held at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park venues. It offers 37 sports and is supported by an embedded Borough Team Organiser network in every participating borough.

The charity operates with 41 staff under CEO Katie Berry and Chair Professor Geoff Thompson MBE. Notable alumni include Olympic champions Mo Farah, Alex Yee, and Dina Asher-Smith, providing significant brand credibility. Revenue is generated through a mix of institutional grants, corporate sponsorship, donations, and community fundraising events such as Charity Runs. Key funding and delivery partners include Sport England, the Mayor of London, City Bridge Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, Nike, the LTA, Activity Alliance, Access Sport, and Tesco Stronger Starts.

The underlying platform is a coordinated, borough-by-borough sport delivery operation rather than a technology product. Strategic priorities captured in the data include the LYG50 50th-anniversary campaign running through 2027, the expansion of the Inclusive Coaches disability-sport programme, and the diversification of income beyond concentrated grant and corporate funding. No AI, machine-learning, or proprietary software platform is described in the available information.

Name

London Youth Games

Legal name

London Youth Games Foundation

Website

https://londonyouthgames.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

London Youth Games is a London-based non-profit charity founded in 1977 that delivers Europe's largest annual youth multi-sport event across 37 sports, serving roughly 160,000 young people aged 7-17 across all 33 London boroughs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Multi-Sport Programmes and Community Sports Events

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Spectator Sports (711219)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth & Junior Tournament Organizers (MPAKADAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth & Scholastic Sports Organizations (K–12, AAU, Club Leagues) (MPAKACAF), Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ), Amateur & Grassroots Sport Associations (Community/Youth Governing Orgs) (MPAKAFAF)

Keywords

• Youth sports programmes
• Multi-sport competitions
• Community sport development
• Inclusive sports coaching
• Youth engagement events

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations: Individual donations from supporters, including Christmas appeals and general fundraising campaigns. Donations help provide access to sport for young Londoners facing barriers.
2. Corporate Sponsorship: Partnerships with corporations who sponsor the Games. Sponsors receive recognition and association with youth sport development in London.
3. Government and Trust Funding: Funding from Sport England, Mayor of London, City Bridge Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, and other grant-making bodies to support programme delivery.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

London Youth Games is a charity that delivers youth multi-sport competitions and programmes across London's 33 boroughs. Its core offerings span Open Games (community sport competition in 27+ sports), School Games (school-based competition), LYG33 (youth voice and leadership for ages 14-24), GamesForce (volunteering), and Inclusive Coaches (coach development). All events are free for participants, with inclusive ParaGames events supporting young disabled Londoners.

Product overview

London Youth Games is a charity operating five interconnected strategic programme pillars: Open Games (community sport competition across 27+ sports for borough representation), School Games (school sport competitions), LYG33 (youth voice and leadership programme for ages 14-24), GamesForce (volunteering programme), and Inclusive Coaches (coach development with CPD and mentoring). The organisation delivers the largest annual youth sports event in Europe, offering over 37 sports including inclusive ParaGames events. Additional offerings include the Game On podcast and comprehensive games rules resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Open Games Community sport competition enabling young Londoners from all backgrounds to represent their borough and compete in 27+ sports. All 32 boroughs of London and the City of London are members. Free to participate.
• School Games School sport programme delivered in partnership with School Games Organisers, providing competitive and participation opportunities for young people across London schools.
• LYG33 Youth engagement and leadership programme that empowers young Londoners aged 14-24 to shape the future of London Youth Games and youth sport in London.
• GamesForce Volunteering programme that connects individuals and communities to improve life opportunities for young Londoners, including corporate volunteering opportunities. Recruitment via the Rosterfy portal.
• Inclusive Coaches Coach development programme providing training workshops, CPD qualifications, and mentoring to help coaches create inclusive sports environments for young disabled people.
• ParaGames Inclusive sports events for young disabled Londoners including ParaGames Athletics, Swimming, Football, Boccia, and adapted multi-sport events.
• Adapted Inspire Festivals Inclusive events for disabled young people and their friends to try new sports and find pathways into local clubs.
• Game On: Champions of the Streets Podcast First-ever podcast exploring the experiences of elite athletes who competed in or played a role with the London Youth Games.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40% of participants are inspired to continue with their sport
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered strategic partner, programme partner, operational partner and venue partner.

• Nikestrategic partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Announced in 2019, Nike partnership aimed at supporting young Londoners through sport. Nike UK&IRE Vice President noted young Londoners have unbeatable spirit and attitude.
• Activity Allianceprogramme partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Session support provider for Inclusive Coaches programme. Activity Alliance is the voice of disabled people in sport and activity.
• Lawn Tennis Association (LTA)programme partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Session support provider for Inclusive Coaches programme. LTA supports tennis development across London.
• Access Sportprogramme partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Session support provider for Inclusive Coaches programme. Access Sport focuses on increasing access to sport in underserved communities.
• GLLoperational partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Managing partner of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park venues. Organising committee member for Finals Festival 2025.
• London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC)venue partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Organising committee member for Finals Festival. Manages the legacy of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
• Youth Sport Trustoperational partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Organising committee member for Finals Festival. National charity working to ensure every young person has the opportunity to engage in sport.
• Youth Charterstrategic partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Organising committee member for Finals Festival. Youth Charter charity focuses on social change through sport. LYG is implementing Community Campus initiatives in partnership with Youth Charter.
• Street Gamesoperational partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Organising committee member for Finals Festival. Street Games helps sport clubs become more accessible to young people in disadvantaged areas.
• London Sportoperational partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Organising committee member for Finals Festival. London-wide organisation working to get more Londoners active.
• Greater London Authority (GLA)operational partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Organising committee member for Finals Festival. London government's strategic body supporting the Mayor's sport and youth initiatives.
• LMEoperational partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Organising committee member for Finals Festival. LME (London Metropolitan Events or similar) involved in event delivery.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Access Sport: UK charity focused on increasing access to sport in underserved communities. Directly comparable to LYG's inclusive/community sport mission and is a session support partner for the Inclusive Coaches programme.
• Street Games: UK charity helping sport clubs become more accessible to young people in disadvantaged areas. Closely comparable mission around youth sport access, and sits on the LYG Finals Festival organising committee.
• Activity Alliance: The national voice of disabled people in sport and activity in the UK. Highly comparable to LYG's ParaGames and Adapted Inspire Festivals work, and is a programme partner for Inclusive Coaches.
• Youth Sport Trust: National UK charity working to ensure every young person has the opportunity to engage in sport. Comparable as a peer-level youth sport charity with overlapping school sport programmes and an LYG organising-committee partnership.
• London Sport: London-wide organisation working to get more Londoners active. Comparable as a London-focused sport body and LYG organising-committee partner for the Finals Festival; shares the same regional sports-development mandate.
• Youth Charter: UK charity founded by LYG Chair Prof. Geoff Thompson MBE to drive social change through sport. Strong operational overlap with LYG's youth-development work and is an LYG strategic partner on Community Campus initiatives.

Regional players

• Lawn Tennis Association (LTA): UK national governing body for tennis. LTA supports Inclusive Coaches session delivery in London, and is comparable as a sport-specific governing body whose player-development pipeline overlaps with LYG's talent path.

Broad incumbents

• Sport England: National Lottery-funded body for grassroots sport in England. Functions as LYG's largest core funder and a sector-wide incumbent whose grants and policy direction materially shape LYG's scope.
• School Games (national programme): National Government / Youth Sport Trust-managed school sport competition programme. Comparable to LYG's School Games pillar and a structural upstream/downstream partner for the same schools and participants.

Emerging players

• GLL: Major UK leisure and facility operator managing Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park venues. Partner in LYG Finals Festival delivery and adjacent in bringing community participation to premium sporting venues.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LdnYouthGames
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@londonyouthgames
• Facebookfacebook.com/londonyouthgames
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/london-youth-games
• Instagraminstagram.com/ldnyouthgames

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about London Youth Games