Hundreds of Birmingham and West Midlands groups receive sports equipment from Birmingham 2022

Over 16,000 pieces of sports equipment used by teams and athletes during the Commonwealth Games have now been gifted to 290 local sport and community groups in Birmingham and the West Midlands, following a rigorous application process.

Sport England, the Birmingham 2022 Organising Committee and the Department for Digital, Culture Media & Sport (DCMS) joined forces to give away the equipment - including bikes, wrestling and judo mats, weights, T20 cricket equipment, basketballs and boxing gloves, as well as general items, such as cones and bibs.  

The equipment giveaway was supported with collaboration from a wide range of organisations and community leaders across Birmingham and the West Midlands, ensuring the giveaway reflects the diversity of communities in the region.

In addition, it supports the long-term ambition of the Commonwealth Games to support local people to take part in sport and be active, creating a lasting community impact in the Birmingham and the West Midlands.

Almost 2,500 applications were submitted to the giveaway, demonstrating the local need and demand for support. Sport England has now dedicated £100k from its overall £35 million investment into the Games to support more community groups to access the sports equipment they need.

The Places and Spaces fund - part of Sport England’s wider Commonwealth Games package – remains open for applications too, to help community sport and physical activity groups create or improve facilities in their local area. The B2022 Small Grants programme is open until the end of January 2023 too, to support community projects that bring people together through sport and physical activity.

Tim Hollingsworth, CEO of Sport England said:

“The fact that within three months of the Games ending we are able to give away 16,000 pieces of kit and equipment means the Commonwealth Games is continuing to deliver real benefit to people of the West Midlands.  This was a major ambition for Sport England’s £35 million investment into the Games, and it’s at the heart of our Uniting the Movement strategy too: that everyone, regardless of background, bank balance or where they live has the opportunity to get active.

We’re also delighted to continue to offer more opportunities to local groups, through dedicating £100k to sports equipment in the West Midlands, alongside our Places and Spaces facilities fund and B2022 small grants programme.” 

Cllr Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “I was always clear that the Commonwealth Games had to be about much more than the 11 days of sporting action that we enjoyed as the Proud Host City. Initiatives like this are boosting grassroots activity in this city for many years to come and helping strengthen the sustainability of the legacy in a most practical way. Given the challenges we all face at the moment, I know this equipment giveaway scheme couldn’t come at a better time for local sports clubs and organisations.”