ANNUAL REVIEW 2019

A PLACE TO PLAY SPORT FOREVER LONDON PLAYING FIELDS FOUNDATION / Annual Review 2019 1

CONTENTS

02 CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE 04 WHAT WE DO 05 WHY WE DO IT 06 AROUND OUR GROUNDS 08 PROMOTING AND FUNDRAISING 2019 IN NUMBERS 10 11 INCOME AND EXPENDITURE 12 LORD CADOGAN: LPFF CHAIRMAN 2001-2019

WWW.LPFF.ORG.UK 2 LONDON PLAYING FIELDS FOUNDATION / Annual Review 2019 3

It gives me great pride as the new London Playing Fields Foundation CHAIRMAN’S Chairman to welcome you to the 2019 Annual Review which marks 129 years of working to improve the quality of life of Londoners MESSAGE through the protection, provision and promotion of playing fi elds. As someone whose life has been enhanced through sport in a variety of forms, it is an absolute honour to join a charity with such a rich and productive history.

It would of course be remiss of me not to Secondly, charities also have to make instantaneous health and social impact thank and congratulate my predecessor a difference and we achieve this through of sport and physical exercise is one for his magnifi cent contribution to the our playing fi elds protection role of the main reasons why I joined the Foundation over the last eighteen years. and our ground-breaking projects. Foundation and I have become a Whilst his tenure is covered elsewhere in When community groups have been passionate advocate of the value of this review, as Lord Cadogan’s son I know in despair because their local fi eld well-managed playing fi elds. We know how much this charity meant to him and is under threat from development, from our own reports about how they how he was totally committed to its vision London Playing Fields Foundation has can help make communities safer and and mission. He leaves huge boots to fi ll come to the rescue time after time and improve levels of physical and mental but I am ready for the challenge. helped safeguard its long term future; health, with recent research indicating and projects such as Coping Through that London’s public green space Given the familial link and the four Football and Green Hearts have provides services valued at £5 billion years I spent on the LPFF Gala Dinner demonstrated how innovative use of per year. It is estimated that Londoners Committee between 2011 and 2015, playing fi elds can provide an antidote to save £950 million per year in health I am no stranger to LPFF and its work. poor mental health and sedentary living. costs due to the impact of living and I think that it is an extraordinary charity working close to public green space. that since 1890 has punched well above Thirdly, charities need to be solvent its weight to ensure that London remains and this is a real challenge when the Armed with this evidence, I look forward one of the greenest and greatest sporting operation of playing fi elds is inherently to my tenure as Chairman of London capital cities in the world. In the short loss making. As a result of our Playing Fields Foundation with great time that I have been Chairman I have commitment to providing affordable optimism and believe that over the been immensely impressed by the facilities for all, for every pound that coming years we will consolidate our people who make this charity so special we spend on the management and position as the leading body for the from my fellow Trustees to Head Offi ce maintenance of a pitch we only recoup protection, provision and promotion and grounds staff. Their unwavering 39p in hiring income. This means that of playing fi elds in London. commitment to our mission of providing we have to rely on additional sources a place to play sport forever is truly of income in order to make our pitches Finally, we would like to place on inspirational. accessible to the communities we serve. record our continuing thanks to all of Events such as our Gala Dinner at The our supporters and to our dedicated My ambition as Chairman is to ensure Savoy and the LPFF Quiz at The Oval team of staff and Trustees who do that the Foundation has a sustainable provide us with much needed income such a wonderful job in running and future and, like all charities, we depend and we are greatly indebted to the Gala promoting the charity. on three things for our survival. The fi rst Dinner and LPFF Quiz Committees who is to adapt and stay relevant by ensuring year after year do such a marvellous job. that we continue to meet the needs of It is my intention to help the Foundation our benefi ciaries. In essence, we are to signifi cantly increase its fundraising facilitators of participation in sport and capacity and place it on a stable footing. physical activity and we achieve this Hon William Cadogan by providing accessible and affordable Of course, there is a strong correlation Chairman places where it can take place. Our between fundraising and increasing playing fi elds have to provide the type profi le especially with potential of environment where schools, colleges, supporters who might not be familiar universities and clubs can fl ourish and with our cause. Being in a position develop the sport they love. where you can see the almost 4 LONDON PLAYING FIELDS FOUNDATION / Annual Review 2019 5

WHAT WE DO WHY WE DO IT

Our vision is to create a happier, healthier, Peter May Sports Centre Physical inactivity will prematurely kill one in more cohesive London by encouraging more six of us and with a third of London’s children people to play sport and be physically active being overweight or obese, it is vitally important on affordable, accessible and attractive that we provide places to play sport and inspire playing fi elds. More than just green spaces, more people to exercise on a regular basis. playing fi elds are places where lives can be improved physically, mentally and socially.

OUR PLAYING FIELDS We rely therefore on a combination of Current examples of these life-changing This means extending our reach beyond By providing opportunities for people to Research from the Fields of Dreams generosity of our supporters, grant aid projects include Coping Through traditional team games to those who be more active we can be part of a report on Douglas Eyre Sports Centre Our playing fi elds are used by over and commercial partnerships to Football and Green Hearts. are not involved in organised sport, but, solution that, in tackling preventable has already shown how access to 210,000 people every year, at the seven continue subsidising our playing fi elds with the right encouragement, will walk, illnesses through early intervention, regular positive sporting experiences grounds we own and manage across fi ve so that they are accessible to all. In the OUR PITCH PROTECTION jog or run around our fi elds on an saves the NHS millions of pounds. can be a force for good in the lives London boroughs, to help them stay fi t current climate where local authorities informal basis. In this way our fi elds of these young people who might and healthy by playing and practising Once a playing fi eld is lost, it is lost are under enormous pressure to build will be more relevant to local residents Playing fi elds and the activities played otherwise be tempted by the allure the sport they love. In order to widen, forever so when it comes to protection new homes and cut council expenditure, and become the green hearts of the on them have the capacity to bring of the gang. increase and sustain participation in our mantra is no net loss of pitches, playing fi elds have never been under communities they serve. Encouraging communities together and to reduce sport and physical activity, we provide if they are lost to development they greater threat. We believe it is vitally those who lead an inactive lifestyle to do social isolation. They can also increase high quality, affordable sports pitches for should be replaced. We believe that important that we continue to more exercise is one of society’s biggest aspirations and feelings of self-worth schools, colleges, universities, clubs and the social value of playing fi elds to local demonstrate how well-managed and challenges. Financially it makes sense and in doing so help to reduce crime community members. Our programmes communities is huge and that is why maintained playing fi elds can help as it is estimated that physical inactivity and anti-social behaviour. With knife of use are underpinned by sports we are committed to opposing the provide those teams and individuals who costs the economy £7.4billion in crime tragically taking so many teenage development principles where the current and future loss of playing fi elds use them with a home where they can premature deaths, healthcare and lives, we want to use sport to get young objective is to support young people in London. We are the fi rst port of call play and practise the sport they love. sickness absence. people off the streets and to provide on their sporting journeys from school for advice on protecting threatened an alternative lifestyle where they feel to club based activities. playing fi elds and have produced a OUR PROJECTS safer and more aspirational. Playing Fields Charter for London. However, operating these playing fi elds For some people, through no fault of This urges the Greater London Authority, is an expensive business and for every their own, leading an active lifestyle local authorities and sporting bodies to pound we invest in the maintenance is diffi cult physically, socially and adopt a long term view of the contribution and management of a sports pitch economically. In line with our original that playing fi elds make to creating we only recoup 39p in hiring income. charitable objectives, we are committed happier, healthier, more cohesive to providing opportunities for some of communities. We also maintain a London’s most disadvantaged groups Fields at Risk Register, an early warning to play sport and be physically active. system that lists sites in imminent Through a mix of innovation and danger of commercial or residential partnership working, we have development and which, over the last developed and delivered a number ten years, has resulted in saving over of transformational projects designed 20 threatened sites for current and to address inequalities. future generations of Londoners.

Green Hearts project Coping Through Football 6 LONDON PLAYING FIELDS FOUNDATION / Annual Review 2019 7

AROUND OUR GROUNDS Against the backcloth of rising childhood obesity and soaring knife crime, it is reassuring to refl ect upon the volume and variety of activity that took place at our grounds during the year and to learn of the difference it is making to people’s lives. Angeli Cricket Player: Louisa

Cricket Player:

RICHIE’S STORY “The experience of playing rugby and “I think that rugby is an amazing sport THE SIGNIFICANCE OF Before London Playing Fields Foundation empowered them as Louisa says, being around the club taught me the and becoming a member of a team FAIRLOP OAK PLAYING FIELD started the Under 11 Midweek League “When I was younger I was really shy and value of discipline, respect and teamwork. rather than a gang at 16 completely IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF youngsters had limited opportunity we didn’t do much sport at school but In fact, it kept me out of jail and even saved my life. That’s why I’m 100% JUNIOR CRICKET to play competitive hard ball cricket. now playing cricket makes me feel really out of an early grave. behind London Playing Fields Foundation The league and other competitions good. I’ve learned new skills that have “When it comes to cricket pitches, and its work. Without a pitch to play including fun festivals have motivated put me ahead at school.” Fairlop Oak’s are second to none”, “Sixteen years later I am now Club Captain, on I would never have been introduced them to turn up week after week.” commented Len Enoch of Wanstead have a beautiful wife and two lovely to rugby and my life would have For others like Ayesha the infl uence of Cricket Club. The facility enabled the children. I work as a Family Support been over.” In recent years we have witnessed a the peer group was strong but she felt formation of the highly popular Worker which is just one level below dramatic increase in the number of that sport was a good way of keeping U11 Midweek League which Len has a social worker. I like to share my girls playing the game. At fi rst some active and getting fi t, “Lots of my friends Richie has been playing rugby for managed alongside numerous other experience with young lads who of the girls encountered scepticism at school don’t do much sport and West London RUFC at London junior cricket events. This has meant like me at their age were lost and but they soon won over their male spend the whole time on their phones.” Marathon Playing Field Greenford that since 1998 thousands of boys and going nowhere. counterparts with their enthusiasm, for half of his life. girls have been introduced to a game skill and commitment. Seventeen year old Ayesha told us how that has shaped and improved their cricket has always been a big part of “At nine years old my father died in my lives. In essence it is highly inclusive As Angeli said, “I love the competitiveness her life. “I grew up in a cricket mad arms and I never recovered. In my early cricket for all standards. For the gifted of cricket and I’m obsessed with it. family with three brothers. I’ve been teens I was lost and became very angry few, the competitions, which run from When I fi rst played with the boys they playing since I was nine years old, and despite receiving lots of counselling May through to August, have provided had a problem with it, that is until mainly with and against boys, as there and mentoring I got involved with a a springboard for a successful I bowled to them. Then they said weren’t many girls playing at that time. group of lads whose main activity was professional career. Roughly half of the ‘OK I get it’, now I’m the captain of crime; mainly drugs use and distribution. 2019 double winning Essex team played the school team.” “Playing cricket has helped me in many I got into lots of fi ghts and carrying at Fairlop where they were introduced ways, I am now a level one coach and knives and weapons was a way of life. to junior league cricket as youngsters. Given the opportunity to play cricket volunteer to coach regularly. Cricket has I had many brushes with the law and at Wanstead CC, many of whom were also allowed me to gain a lot of life skills, my mum was very worried about me Len says that “The importance of introduced to cricket at Fairlop Oak, it’s boosted my confi dence a lot. It’s and my future. having a venue where fi ve quality has enabled girls’ cricket to fl ourish. allowed me to manage a team by pitches are available at the same time In turn this has encouraged other clubs myself which is not something you “Then one day I met someone from was a signifi cant factor in the decision to follow suit. Playing cricket has actually would expect to be doing at this age.” West London RUFC who took me on to centre so much cricket at Fairlop Oak. as a labourer and persuaded me to go rugby training. At fi rst I was very sceptical thinking I had little to learn. How wrong I was. It was a huge wake up call. I discovered there was much When I was younger I was really shy and we didn’t do much more to life than being in a gang. sport at school but now playing cricket makes me feel really good. I’ve learned new skills that have put me ahead at school.

Louisa, Junior cricketer 8 LONDON PLAYING FIELDS FOUNDATION / Annual Review 2019 9

PROMOTING THE GALA DINNER & FUNDRAISING BREAKS THE £1MILLION BARRIER

Gala Dinner Chairman: Nigel Goodman

In the year when our Gala Dinner reached the magical milestone of one million pounds raised since it began in 2011, we thought it would be appropriate to turn the spotlight on the driving force behind this success, our dynamic Gala Dinner Chairman Nigel Goodman.

That is why we are delighted to have WHAT IS YOUR DAY JOB? no one stepped forward to accept the fundraising were not on the agenda. We receive no direct fi nancial support from established two major fundraising position of Chairman, so I took it on for We had to aim high, which we have I am the owner and Managing Director events – the LPFF Quiz at The Oval in one year and here I am nine years later, done ever since. local or central government and are therefore of a city fi nancial adviser business. May and the Gala Dinner at The Savoy still in the role. dependent on the generosity of supporters in November. Both evenings provide DESCRIBE YOUR EMOTIONS WHEN WHAT DREW YOU TO YOUR ROLE the opportunity to promote the value HOW DID YOUR PREVIOUS PASSING THE £1MILLION MILESTONE OF CHAIRMAN OF THE LPFF and organisations to deliver our mission of of our work and to inform the gathered EXPERIENCE WITH NSPCC HELP? GALA DINNER COMMITTEE? When we passed the £1m mark I was guests of how well-managed playing providing a place to play sport forever. Having worked on the City Committee absolutely delighted as it was a great fi elds can improve and in some I had no intention of being involved with of the NSPCC it had given me an achievement and a testimony to the extreme cases save lives. the charity until my wife ended up on insight into how to ask for donations hard work the team have put in to a different charity event, a horse ride in and commitments from senior get there. When we set up the new The 2018 Gala Dinner featuring Kenya and rode alongside LPFF Trustee business people and to raise the bar committee the fi rst real challenge was Teddy Sheringham as the Made in Anthony Ratcliffe. He heard that I had in expectations of how much to make to ensure we raised substantially more London Award winner, was very just given up my role with the NSPCC on the night. Our targets at LPFF have than the net £30k that the previous successful, raising nearly £300,000. City Committee and wondered whether nearly always been achieved and the dinner had made. We are now on our We owe a great debt of gratitude to the I might be willing to help the Foundation. organisation within the committee is way to £1.5m and regularly surpass Gala Dinner and the Quiz Committees My immediate reaction was no! A charity excellent, co-ordinated by Alex and £150k at each dinner. for their tireless efforts on our behalf that I had never even heard of before his outstanding staff. Setting individual in ensuring that the event is sold out being a guest at its 120th Anniversary tasks and overall responsibilities has HOW WOULD YOU SELL LPFF TO and that guests have a mouth-watering celebration event which turned out to also helped. A POTENTIAL DONOR? array of prizes to bid for in the Live be the worst fundraising dinner I had and Silent auctions. ever attended. Now that I know the charity much WHAT WERE THE MAIN CHALLENGES better, I think the key message that OF GETTING THE COMMITTEE UP However, I was persuaded to sit down playing fi elds and the activities played AND RUNNING? with Alex Welsh, the Foundation’s CEO, on them can enrich and transform lives and at least listen to what the charity The biggest challenge to making the is one that everyone should support. did and how it raised its funds at that Committee a success was getting To achieve this level of commitment, time. I was then able to provide some the team to think big and to give it is vital that the Foundation builds a constructive advice in the form of some the members the confi dence that large donor base and spreads the word brutal home truths on how to organise supporters would pay a much higher among its supporters and wider a successful fundraising event. price to be involved with the event. community about its incredible Surprisingly Alex came back and he We had to move the whole thing contribution to London life. The wider must have liked what he had heard up-market. We did agree on certain the message, the easier it will become because he asked me to present a new rules and targets at the inaugural to raise funds and to continue the blueprint to the existing Gala Dinner meeting, the fi rst and overriding thing excellent work of LPFF. Committee. At the end of the meeting being that low targets and low Teddy Sheringham, LPFF Sports Quiz 2018 Made in London Award Winner 10 LONDON PLAYING FIELDS FOUNDATION / Annual Review 2019 11

LPFF INCOME & BY NUMBERS EXPENDITURE 2019 2019

Over 183 adults and 210,000 Londoners used INCOME EXPENDITURE 80 young people LPFF pitches in 2019, 526 attended the Coping equivalent to Stamford football teams regularly Through Football project Bridge fi lled 5 times use our facilities

Key Key

Hiring income £450,845 (28%) Governance costs £68,935 (5%)

Rents and catering £415,062 (26%) Cost of generating funds £163,986 (11%) On average 40 junior football matches Revenue grants £55,474 (4%) Grounds running costs £710,683 (49%) 3,505 football are played at London matches were played on Marathon Greenwich 35 cricket clubs Capital grants £0 (0%) Premises costs £152,215 (11%) our grounds, an average each weekend during and 61 cricket teams Investments and interest £47,567 (3%) Ground support costs £206,261 (14%) of 125 matches each week the football season play on LPFF wickets Fundraising, covenants and donations Capital costs £0 (0%) £459,084 (29%) Revenue project support costs Other income £164,115 (10%) £136,282 (10%)

Total £1,592,147 Total £1,438,362 606 An average of cricket matches were 1,477 people played on LPFF pitches 279 use our Artifi cial Turf with an average of Green Hearts members Pitches in the football 30 games each week signed up to the project season per week For the period 1st October 2018 – 30th September 2019. These fi gures do not include depreciation or investment gains or losses. For a full set of Audited Accounts for 2019 please contact Head Offi ce. 12 13

LORD CADOGAN LPFF CHAIRMAN 2001-2019

Gala Dinner: Lord Cadogan and Harry Kane

Lord Cadogan joined the Foundation More well known, was his dedicated The dozens of threatened playing in 2001 and within a few months he service to Chelsea Football Club fi elds that have been saved through conducted the turf cutting ceremony between 1963-1982, initially as a our Fields at Risk Register have also at London Marathon Playing Field Director and subsequently as Chairman. added to our strategic value. Greenwich with one of our Vice Presidents Bob Wilson. The aim of the modernisation Since 2001 through his exemplary Since the drastic decline in the amount was to safeguard the long-term future of leadership, the Foundation has enjoyed of available statutory funding at the this vulnerable ground and to transform the most successful and least turbulent end of the 2000’s, The Foundation’s it into the country’s fi rst dedicated period in its entire 129-year history and fundraising output has increased mini-soccer centre. Given that his the charity has greatly benefi tted from enormously. It is with thanks to fi rst love was football, having been a his vast business, property and sporting Lord Cadogan’s’ inspiration, generosity distinguished centre back in his younger expertise and experience. Having his and patronage of our Gala Dinners, days, at one time even partnering a steady and wise hand at the helm has we have reached a fi nancial position young Sgt Lawrie McMenemy, it was made all the difference. From those that would have been unthinkable appropriate that this was one of his fi rst openings of the new pavilions at a few years ago. offi cial duties. In fact, Lord Cadogan Fairlop Oak Playing Field and London was an accomplished all-round Marathon Playing Field Greenwich Lord Cadogan possesses many personal sportsman also excelling in golf, in the early 2000’s to the acquisition of qualities that endeared him so much to cricket and racquets. London Marathon Playing Field Greenford his fellow Trustees and executive staff in 2007 and the installation of the new especially his kindness, modesty and He was also no stranger to sport in 3G pitches at Douglas Eyre Sports humility. His passion for sport and his East London having been Honorary Centre and Peter May Sports Centre understanding of how it can be a force Treasurer of the London Federation of in the following decade, his tenure for good in so many people’s lives Boys’ Clubs and a volunteer manager has presided over a period of combined with his tremendous business to Eton Manor Boys Club in Hackney, signifi cant modernisation of facilities. acumen and big picture vision made on land which is now the Olympic Park him the perfect Chairman. Hockey Centre. He was later Chairman Ground-breaking projects such as of Docklands Settlements. the All Nations Football Programme, Everyone connected with the charity is Active Angels, Female Coach profoundly grateful for Lord Cadogan’s Development and Coping Through contribution over the last two decades, Football have demonstrated the huge and as he now becomes an Honorary social and health benefi ts of sport Life President of London Playing Fields and have helped to cement the Foundation, we wish him the very best Foundation’s reputation as a in his retirement. forward thinking, innovative and compassionate organisation.

Cutting the turf at LMPF Greenwich THANK YOU TO OUR FUNDERS & DONORS

DONORS PATRON PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS • Dr Mortimer and HRH The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO SOLICITORS Theresa Sackler Foundation Bircham Dyson Bell LLP HONORARY PATRON • The Cadogan Charity The Rt Hon the Lord Mayor PROPERTY CONSULTANTS • Golden Bottle Trust of the City of London Savills plc • Greater London Authority • LB Waltham Forest PRESIDENT INVESTMENT ADVISORS • The Baer Charitable Trust Kate Hoey MP Cazenove • The Khayami Foundation HONORARY LIFE PRESIDENT AUDITORS The Rt Hon The Earl Cadogan KBE DL MHA MacIntyre Hudson And thank you to all those who gave generously to events through the year VICE PRESIDENTS BANKERS including the Quiz and Gala Dinner. Martin Bayfi eld Bank of Scotland plc The Lord Coe CH KBE Mike Gatting OBE John Hollins MBE Peter Nathan OBE DL Hope Powell OBE Micky Stewart OBE Bob Wilson OBE CHAIRMAN The Rt Hon The Earl Cadogan KBE DL (retired September 2019) Hon William Cadogan (appointed December 2019) HON TREASURER Dennis Hone CBE TRUSTEES Colin Ainger Jamie Dalrymple Christine Double Sally Hopper Henrietta Martin-Fisher Lucy McCrickard Jack Miller Anthony Ratcliffe Cara Turtington Andy Sutch Andy Webb (appointed June 2019) CHIEF EXECUTIVE Alex Welsh

LONDON PLAYING FIELDS FOUNDATION 58 Bloomsbury Street, London WC1B 3QT T 020 7323 0331 E [email protected]

WWW.LPFF.ORG.UK | TWITTER @THELPFF Incorporated by Royal Charter in 1925. Charity No 302925