London Youth Games and Chaotic Community unite to transform access to sport for thousands of SEND young people

Today, the London Youth Games Foundation and Chaotic Community are proud to announce a new strategic partnership for the 2025-2026 London Youth Games season.

This powerful collaboration will focus on expanding access to inclusive sports for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). By working together, the two organisations aim to ensure more children across London can experience the transformative benefits of sport and physical activity.

Nearly a third (28.8%) of disabled children are doing less than 30 minutes of physical activity each day, according to Sport England’s Active Lives Survey.

This partnership will provide increased access to a variety of sport and physical activities through the LYG programmes, whilst building confidence and awareness to enable continued and sustained sport and physical activity participation post events. Together, the organisations will deliver 21 inclusive sports events during the 2025–26 season. These events will give over 2,000 young people with SEND the chance to be active, have fun and build skills, confidence and friendships. These events will also provide training and deployment opportunities for over 250 coaches and volunteers and give clubs and activity providers the opportunity to connect with SEND schools, participants and their families. The partnership will work to boost engagement in targeted schools and communities. It will also increase partnership work with SEND youth clubs, inclusive sport clubs and Disability Peoples Organisations (DPO’s) to drive participation.

The London Youth Games charity hosts the UK’s largest multi-sport youth event, delivering an extensive programme of 37 sports each year. As part of this, the charity runs inclusive events across the LYG programmes, including ParaGames Athletics, Football and Swimming. Open to young people from all 32 London boroughs and the City of London, the Games have already given more than 27,900 disabled young people the chance to take part – demonstrating LYG’s long-standing commitment to ensuring sport is a right for all.

Chaotic is a UK-based competition platform dedicated to supporting families with SEND. They are home to a vibrant community of more than 91,000 members. Around 80% of whom report having a direct SEND connection. This makes Chaotic a safe and dedicated space where families can connect, share experiences and access vital support. Alongside this, the organisation also reaches an additional network of more than 17,000 SEND parents, extending its impact even further.

Chaotic’s in-house services are designed to provide practical, meaningful support. These include free one-to-one family guidance, funding assistance for low-income households, and the distribution of specialist items that make everyday life more manageable for SEND families. The organisation also actively partners with schools, charities and community groups that align with its mission, ensuring that help reaches families where it is needed most.

This commitment is deeply personal to Chaotic’s founder and CEO, Shana Kennedy, who was recently diagnosed with autism and ADHD, and is a parent of an autistic son. Shana’s lived experience of navigating SEN parenting inspired her to create Chaotic as a trusted space for families facing similar challenges. Her vision continues to drive the organisation’s work in empowering and uplifting the SEND community.

Katie Berry, Interim CEO of London Youth Games, said: “Every young person deserves the chance to take part in sport and physical activity. In London, there is a real need for more inclusive opportunities, especially for children with additional needs. By collaborating with Chaotic Community, we are increasing meaningful opportunities for more young people to build confidence, improve their wellbeing and feel less alone through the power of sport and physical activity.”

Shana Kennedy, CEO of Chaotic Community, said: “At Chaotic, we know first-hand how isolating it can feel for families navigating special educational needs and disabilities. As a parent of an autistic child, I built Chaotic to create a safe and supportive space where families could connect, be heard and find the help they need. This partnership with London Youth Games means so much, because every child deserves the chance to feel included, to shine and to experience the joy of sport and belonging. Together, we are opening doors for young people who are too often left out, and showing them that their voices, their dreams and their futures truly matter.”

Want to get involved?
Schools, clubs and community organisations interested in participating or supporting inclusive sport initiatives can contact emma@londonyouthgames.org