Commonwealth Games legacy already packing a punch in Solihull

A year after being ringside to watch world-class boxers compete at the Commonwealth Games, a group of young people from Urban Heard youth centre in Fordbridge, Solihull, are now pulling on the gloves themselves as part of its legacy.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), visited Urban Heard as part of his one-year Games anniversary tour to see how communities across all parts of the region are already benefiting from the legacy.

Urban Heard is one of 300 grassroots sport and community groups that shared 16,000 pieces of sports equipment used by elite athletes last summer as part of a kit giveaway.

The 12 to 17-year-olds have been using the donated boxing gloves to ‘let off steam’ as part of the centre’s mentoring work. But, with the first anniversary of the Games approaching, they are now working with England Boxing to introduce formal boxing training sessions to their weekly activities.

The Mayor also met with leaders from Colebridge Trust to learn about their work with Solihull Active Minds, a community wellness programme which is using the Games as an inspiration to help people become more active and improve their mental wellbeing.

Bike racks used during the Games have also been donated to the Trust by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), which is part of the WMCA, to encourage cycling in the area.

The Mayor said: “It was great to see the fantastic opportunities that Urban Heard and Colebridge Trust are providing to local people of all ages in the aftermath of last summer’s Commonwealth Games. These are wonderful examples of the tangible legacy that we’re determined to deliver right across our region thanks to our £70 million Legacy Enhancement Fund.

“Whether that’s providing better access to jobs and skills training, supporting social enterprises so they can do even more to improve life chances for young people, or making grants available for locally-led projects to boost health and wellbeing, we’re committed to ensuring as many people as possible see a positive impact in the months and years ahead after what was a spectacular summer of sporting success.”

The WMCA is managing the £70 million Commonwealth Games Legacy Enhancement Fund, which was made possible from an underspend resulting from the effective organisation and delivery of last summer’s Games. Following discussions with the Mayor, the UK Government agreed to invest that money back into the region to enhance the legacy and ensure the Games continues to make a positive impact for many years to come.

Included in the Fund is £10 million of community grants for locally led projects like those run by groups supported by Colebridge Trust, and £2 million to help grow the region’s social economy, which includes community interest companies likes Urban Heard, through one of the largest specialist business support programmes for that growing sector.

Charly Slater, chief executive and founder of Urban Heard, said: “I’m so proud that we’re part of the Commonwealth Games legacy and helping to ensure that now and in the future youngsters in this area will see some long-term benefit and be provided with a safe space, trusted adults and opportunities to thrive.

“It’s been such an amazing journey to go from very generously being given free tickets to watch the Games a year ago to having official kit of our own, and now working with England Boxing to see how we can run proper boxing sessions for our young people.”

Gemma Ashington, community projects manager for Colebridge Trust, said: “As the community development trust for Solihull, we are pleased to build on our existing work ensuring that legacy funding is distributed to our community, creating the conditions for residents to become more physically active and ultimately, healthier.”

Cllr Karen Grinsell, deputy leader of Solihull Council and lead member for wellbeing, skills and inclusion, said: “The people and communities Colebridge Trust and Urban Heard are reaching as part of the legacy of the Commonwealth Games is inspirational.

“It was great to join the Mayor on his visit to Solihull to hear some of those stories and to see how we can ensure they and other local groups across the borough can benefit through the WMCA’s Enhanced Legacy Fund over the coming years.”

The kit giveaway was run by Sport England, the Birmingham 2022 Organising Committee and the Department for Digital, Culture Media & Sport (DCMS).  

Enquiries about the WMCA Commonwealth Games Legacy Enhancement Fund should be emailed to legacyfund@wmca.org.uk.