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The National Football League (NFL) and Go! London have announced a two year £1m partnership that aims to improve outcomes for young Londoners by giving them access to discover flag football, helping them feel safe, more connected, and more confident in their futures.
The funding, distributed via NFL Foundation UK, the NFL’s UK charity, will support 19 community organizations trusted by young Londoners to introduce NFL Flag into their delivery. Collectively, funded organizations will harness the power of flag football to not only help get young people active, but to support wider impact such as improved wellbeing, stronger community relationships, and increased opportunities for underserved young Londoners.
Flag football is the non-contact version of American football and is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, with women and girls driving some of the fastest growth. Flag football will make its debut as an Olympic sport in the Los Angeles games in 2028. NFL Flag is the league’s official youth flag football program.
Spanning the breadth of London with 19 organizations selected in 17 boroughs – from Croydon to Enfield – these community groups will be supported with training and capacity building from NFL Foundation UK and BIGKID Foundation, enabling them to become experts in coaching NFL Flag across the capital, and to embed the sport into their broader youth impact work.
An impact partnership
The new partnership with Go! London will deliver a program of NFL Flag and wraparound support for young people aged 11-24, with funding available to grassroots organizations that are interested in delivering new flag football activity. Organizations will be awarded up to £40k to integrate NFL Flag into their outreach, engaging more young people in their impact support offering.
The 2026 partnership is a fresh collaboration between Go! London and the NFL, following a successful £1m partnership between the NFL and the Mayor of London in 2021-23, which supported 15 community organizations across 21 London boroughs to deliver over 1,500 flag football sessions. The program engaged 2,575 young people, with 80 coaches upskilled to deliver NFL Flag in the future.
This grant program is being delivered by Beyond Sport.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said:
“This £1 million partnership between Go! London and the NFL will provide new and exciting opportunities for young Londoners across the capital.
The NFL has a track record of working with us to deliver outstanding community programmes across the capital and with flag football set to become an Olympic sport at the Los Angeles games in 2028, there is no better time for young people in our city to try it out.
I am proud to support this exciting new initiative and help provide more positive opportunities for communities across our city as we build a better, healthier London for everyone.”
Will Stone, Head of Global Social Impact, NFL UK, said:
“It’s fantastic to be launching this partnership with Go! London, which enables us to extend the positive impact we’re making with young people across the capital. Flag football brings a unique energy that excites and engages young people, inspiring them to try sport, stay active and keep playing. Through this, they build skills, confidence, and belief in their ability to shape their own future, contribute to society, and helping them to reach their full potential. By expanding our work in partnership with community organisations across London, we can come together to create bespoke approaches across the city to help address inequalities and open up pathways for young people in London. That’s the driving purpose behind our work and why partnering with Go! London is so important.
Helen Killingley, Head of Funding, London Marathon Foundation, said:
“We’re proud of the impact we’ve already had through Go! London, supporting more than 53,000 young people to get active since 2023. But we’re always looking for innovative, new ways to inspire even more young Londoners to move – which is why we’re so excited to partner with the NFL Foundation UK for Go! London’s first-ever Impact Partnership.
Flag football is an inclusive, accessible, and fun activity, giving young people of all ages and abilities the chance to take part. We can’t wait to see it continue to grow across the capital – creating new opportunities for even more young Londoners to get active and support their physical, mental, and social wellbeing.”
Gary Palmer, Head of Strategic Partnerships and Programmes, London Sport said:
“London Sport is so excited about the launch of the partnership between Go! London and the NFL Foundation UK. It provides a fantastic new opportunity to achieve our shared ambitions of reducing inequalities and providing new opportunities for young Londoners to be active in fun and inclusive ways – perhaps also unlocking new passions along the way!
Not only will young people get to try their hand at flag football, but the partnership will train a new workforce – allowing young people to develop their skills, experiences and leadership to support London’s community organisations, better enabling the delivery of flag football in the run up to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and beyond. A fantastic demonstration of what sport and physical activity can achieve.”
About the funded projects
Addiscombe Boys and Girls Club: The project will deliver weekly flag football sessions for young people aged 11 to 14, designed as an accessible and engaging entry point into structured activity. These sessions will be closely integrated with a wellbeing-focused wraparound offer, including mentoring and pastoral support. By combining regular sport with early intervention support, the programme aims to build confidence, improve mental wellbeing and establish positive routines at a critical stage of development.
Connect Stars: The project will deliver three flag football sessions per week across multiple community locations, embedded within an existing youth sports offer. Alongside sport, the programme incorporates informal education and integration-focused activities that support young people to build confidence, develop social networks and feel a sense of belonging.
Golden Opportunity Skills and Development (GOS&D): The project will deliver weekly flag football sessions for young people aged 11 to 24, creating a structured and inclusive environment for sustained participation. These sessions are complemented by mentoring and tailored development opportunities, ensuring that participants benefit from both physical activity and personal growth. The programme is designed to support long-term engagement, helping young people build resilience, confidence and social connections.
Hilltop Circle: The project will deliver a 24-month programme across community venues, school sports halls and outdoor spaces in areas such as Kingsbury, Wembley and Stonebridge. Weekly flag football sessions will provide consistent engagement, supported by mentoring and ongoing relationship-building. The extended duration of the programme allows for deeper impact, enabling young people to build trust, develop confidence and remain engaged over time.
HR Sports Academy: The project combines school engagement, community delivery, well-being workshops, mentoring, and leadership development to provide sustained participation pathways for young people aged 11–14. The integration of sport with leadership and wellbeing support allows participants to build confidence, skills and long-term aspirations.
Lido Foundation: The project will deliver seven weekly flag football sessions combined with mentoring and employment-focused support. This approach links sport participation directly with skill development and progression opportunities, helping young people build confidence and explore pathways into education and work. By integrating employability support within sport delivery, the programme provides both immediate engagement and longer-term impact.
London Fruit Bats CIC: The “Girls Rule NFL Flag” programme will deliver targeted sessions designed to engage girls who are not currently active or at risk of dropping out. Sessions will focus on building confidence, creating a supportive environment and encouraging sustained participation. The programme uses inclusive coaching and outreach strategies to ensure accessibility and retention.
Newham All Star Sports Academy (NASSA): The project will deliver three weekly flag football sessions, including boys, girls and mixed sessions, ensuring inclusive access across genders. These sessions are embedded within a broader programme that includes mentoring and support pathways, creating a structured and supportive environment.
Power Mobile Gym: The project will deliver regular, high-frequency flag football sessions over 24 months, providing consistent opportunities for young people aged 11–18 to engage in structured physical activity. The delivery model is designed to build routine and sustained participation, helping young people develop confidence and healthy habits over time. Sessions will be inclusive and engaging, encouraging continued involvement.
Pro Touch SA CIC: The project will deliver a structured flag football programme over 24 months for young people aged 14–24, combining sport with employability-focused wraparound support. Sessions will be designed to build both confidence and practical skills, with opportunities for mentoring and progression into education or employment pathways. This integrated approach ensures participants benefit from both engagement and future opportunities.
SenFocus: The project will deliver weekly, one-hour flag football sessions over 24 months, specifically designed for neurodiverse young people. Delivery will be adapted to meet individual needs, including smaller group sizes and supportive coaching approaches that prioritise accessibility and inclusion. Alongside sport, participants will receive support that focuses on social development and confidence-building.
Sporting Pillars: The “Thrive for Success” programme will be delivered over a 24-month period, combining regular flag football sessions with structured mental wellbeing support embedded throughout delivery. Sessions are designed to provide consistent engagement, allowing participants to build routine, confidence and resilience over time. Alongside sport, young people will access evidence-based wellbeing activities that support emotional regulation and healthy habit formation.
Sporting Way CIO: The project will deliver regular flag football sessions over 24 months across Bromley, Croydon and Lewisham, creating consistent opportunities for engagement across multiple communities. Sessions will be paired with emotional wellbeing mentoring, ensuring participants receive both structured physical activity and ongoing personal support. This multi-borough model enables wide reach while maintaining a consistent delivery approach, helping young people build confidence and strengthen social connections.
SW Health and Wellbeing CIC: The project will deliver regular flag football sessions over 24 months, using the sport as an inclusive and engaging entry point for young people who may feel excluded from traditional activities. Sessions will be designed to prioritise participation, enjoyment and accessibility, helping to build confidence and encourage sustained engagement. Alongside sport, the programme will incorporate wellbeing-focused support to improve mental health outcomes.
The Access to Sports Project: The project will deliver structured flag football programmes over 24 months through weekly sessions delivered in community settings such as estates, parks and local venues. Sessions are designed to be inclusive and progression-focused, with clear pathways that support continued engagement beyond initial participation. Alongside sport, young people will benefit from wraparound support that reinforces development and encourages sustained involvement.
The Carpenters and Docklands Centre: The project will be delivered over 24 months through weekly professionally coached flag football sessions, engaging young people aged 18–24 across multiple cohorts. Sessions are designed to provide consistent engagement while supporting participants to build confidence and transferable skills. Alongside sport, the programme will connect young people to progression opportunities, including pathways into education and employment. Their strength lies in their focus on older youth, a group often underserved, and their ability to link sport with meaningful life outcomes.
Thru Life CIC: The project will deliver a 24-month flag football program integrated with Thru Life CIC’s Mental Health & Bereavement through Sport model, providing consistent and structured engagement for young people affected by trauma. Sessions will combine physical activity with facilitated emotional support, allowing participants to process experiences in a safe and supportive environment. The long-term nature of the program enables sustained relationship-building and deeper impact.
You and Me Counselling: The project will deliver weekly flag football sessions over 24 months, closely linked to the organization’s Youth Hub and followed by structured therapeutic support. This integrated model combines physical activity with counseling and mentoring, ensuring young people can access immediate and ongoing mental health support. Sessions are designed to create a safe entry point into deeper engagement, particularly for those who may not otherwise seek support.
London DJ & MC Academy CIC: The project will deliver 90-minute weekly flag football sessions over a two-year period, integrated into their wider program offer. This allows young people to engage through both sport and creative activities, building confidence and structure while exploring different pathways. The long-term delivery model supports sustained engagement and progression.
About the partners
Go! London is a multi-year, £22.5m partnership between the Mayor of London, London Marathon Foundation and Sport England, supported by London Marathon Events and London Sport. Go! London supports community sport and physical activity initiatives, as well as investing directly in the next generation of leaders in the sector by supporting young social entrepreneurs. Since its launch in 2023, the Go! London partnership and fund has awarded £10.5m of funding to over 300 organizations and supported over 53,000 children and young people.
NFL Foundation UK works with community organizations to tackle inequality and lack of opportunities felt by young people. The charity has reached more than 7,000 young people through NFL Flag community programs since 2021.
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