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Over 3 years starting in 2023, we will invest in more low-cost sporting opportunities across the borough, and work with our local clubs and societies to reach more people, young and old, and of all abilities.
- We opened bids for the first tranche of grants from from the £300k Borough of Sport Grant fund.
In 2023:
- We launched a new Activity Finder housing hundreds of listings for a wide range of activities in the borough.
- 5000 residents took part in our first ever Big Sports Day, an event co-delivered with over 40 sporting partner organisations in the Borough. 74% of those who attended said they were likely or very likely to take up a new activity because of attending.
- We made free swimming for all under-16s permanent, meaning every child in the Borough can swim for free at the council’s three leisure centres for up to an hour a day.
- We have introduced free swimming sessions for over 65s in all three of our council leisure centres.
- We’re running free Beginners Bootcamps in Mitcham, delivered by Our Parks, to help you return to exercise, for all abilities and fitness levels.
- Council support has seen 23 schools awarded Opening School Sports Facilities funding, which will bring in almost £300,000 to help improve activity levels and participation among pupils and communities.
- We upgraded Merton’s park tennis courts in partnership with the Lawn Tennis Association, and we have repaired, restored and improved multi-use games areas, paddling pools and other park facilities across the borough.
- 10 per cent of Merton residents took part in the Beat the Street game – a phenomenal number that included 38% of people who described themselves as inactive before taking part in the game.
- We established the Merton Borough of Sport Advisory Group to help guide and shape the Borough of Sport plans. Read the group’s terms of reference and details of its membership.
The Borough of Sport programme is just beginning, with many more announcements to come. We'll keep updating you on this page, and in our weekly My Merton e-news: sign up here.