Celebrating LGBTQ+ Sports in London: Out for Sport Awards
Friday, 16th October
Sport has a unique ability to bring people together. It creates connections between people from different backgrounds, builds friendships, strengthens communities and gives us a shared sense of belonging. But for LGBTQ+ people, feeling welcome and safe in sporting spaces hasn’t always been a given.
For over 27 years, Out For Sport has been the network behind London's LGBTQ+ inclusive sports clubs. Their awards show celebrates clubs, volunteers and individuals across London and the South East who are making LGBTQ+ sports more inclusive, more welcoming and more joyful, every single day.
WLQP's Ben Acton (Football Lead) and Catt Causey (Community Engagement & Events Lead) were among the event's largest attendance yet.
As attendees at this year’s awards, we were reminded of the incredible people, teams and organisations working to make sport a place where everyone can feel comfortable being themselves.
The awards were more than a celebration of sporting achievements. They were a celebration of community, visibility and the people who are making a real difference to LGBTQ+ inclusion across sport.
Awards handed out included Club of the Year, Inclusive Club of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, and Game Changer of the Year. The full list of winners and finalists listed below.
One of the most memorable moments came during Leigh Armstrong's speech after being awarded Ivan Bussens Lifetime Achievement Award for the 43 years he has dedicated to ACE Players Tennis Croydon. He so beautifully articulated the importance of volunteers in LGBTQ+ Sports and Groups: "We may not get paid, but that's not because we are worthless - It's because we're priceless."
Congratulations to all of the winners and finalists! We are so thrilled to be part of such a rich community dedicated to creating welcoming and safe spaces for LGBTQ+ people to thrive in sports.
Winners & Finalists:
Club of the Year: ACE Players Tennis Croydon
Finalists: Brazukas Universe, Kings Cross Steelers RFC
Emerging Club of the Year: Gayzelles Sporting Club
Finalist: All-Out Padel
Inclusive Club of the Year: London Otters Rowing Club
Finalists: London Leftfooters FC, The London Stags RFC
Club Partnership of the Year: Camden Shorinji Kempo
Finalists: London Otters Rowing Club, North London Lob-sters Tennis
Team of the Year: Kings Cross Steelers: RFC Men’s 1st XV
Finalists: Ishigaki Ju Jitsu: Gay Games competitors, London Otters Rowing Club: Senior Squad
Rising Team of the Year: London Otters Rowing Club: Novice Squad
Finalists: Camden Shorinji Kempo: Embu team, North London Lob-sters Tennis: Pride in Tennis Cup team
Newcomer of the Year: Emma Keen (Out to Swim)
Finalists: Maria Trindade (North London Lob-sters Tennis), Ben Yolland (The London Stags RFC)
Sporting Achievement of the Year: Sam Woodcock (Ishigaki Ju-jitsu)
Finalists: Jono Elvin (Kings Cross Steelers RFC), Kieran Slator (London Royals Hockey Club)
Volunteer of the Year: Simon Shipman (North London Lob-sters Tennis)
Finalists: Jordan Chan (Invicta Icons Cricket), Richard Walton (Out to Swim)
Game Changer of the Year: London Royals Hockey Club
Finalist: Tim Regan (UK Equality Dance Council)
Ivan Bussens Lifetime Achievement: Leigh Armstrong (ACE Players Tennis Croydon)
Finalists: Richard Freeman (Kings Cross Steelers RFC), Ben Gifford (Out to Swim)
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