Funding to maximise impact of Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games across the Black Country

Active Black Country and partners have successfully gained funding from Sport England’s Commonwealth Active Communities Fund (CAC), using the 2022 Commonwealth Games to act as a catalyst to drive transformational change.

The funding will support the Black Country to increase activity levels across the least active to support good mental and physical health and reduce inequalities in activity levels.

The investment will fund a network of community connectors across Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton, who will coordinate activation activities for local residents during the Games with activities also continuing beyond the Commonwealth Games.

A new activities platform will also be launched during the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. The new activities platform will encourage communities across the Black Country to get active in their local streets and parks supporting people of all abilities to get involved.

The platform will support residents to find out what activities are available in their area, both in person and online, the range of locations for activities and how best to get to the place where the activity is taking place.

Amanda Tomlinson, Chair of the Active Black Country Board said:

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games brings a real opportunity to engage people across the Black Country, improving physical and mental wellbeing for people of all activity levels. Through the Commonwealth Active Communities funding we are working with partners across the area to deliver taster sessions offering a range of activities across the Black Country in lots of different locations, as well as being able to fund Community Connectors in targeted areas to ensure we are reaching the right communities with the right activities.”

Suzy Street-Hall, Active Communities Connector said:

As Active Communities Connector the purpose of my role is to use the 2022 Commonwealth Games as a catalyst to inspire people to lead a more active lifestyle. A key element of my role is building connections with local people and community organisations to develop understanding of the factors that can influence local opportunities for people to be physically active and support a healthier lifestyle.

Myself and my fellow Active Communities Connectors will work closely with a range of partners to maximise the breadth of local assets available, with a particular focus on local spaces and places, including parks and the canal network, to improve and develop activities and events that provide local people with the opportunity to move more and be physically active.”

During the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games activity will be on offer across the Black Country with activities including:

• Reedswood Park Activation event on 4 August
• Willenhall Memorial Park Activation event on 5 August
• Commonwealth Games Festival Sites in Wolverhampton on 4 August
• Sites across various parks in Dudley from 1 – 7 August
• Shine a Light Festivals at Sandwell Valley from 30 July to 8 August.

For more details on what’s available during the Commonwealth Games visit: www.activeblackcountry.co.uk/birmingham-2022

Find out more @BCBeActive #EveryDayYourWay

The Black Country has received £1.5m from the Commonwealth Active Communities Fund via Sport England with National Lottery funded investment.

The Black Country is one of four areas in the West Midlands to receive the funding, the others are Coventry, Solihull and Birmingham.