‘Game-changer' funding supports thousands across Birmingham with access to jobs and training

West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker released figures which show more than 800,000 people across the region have benefited from more than 400 community-led projects who shared £13 million from the Inclusive Communities Fund and the Community Environment Fund.

Money has been used to host hundreds of events, provide thousands of hours of free activities, improve health and wellbeing. 

In addition, local facilities like community centres, sports pitches and performing arts centres have also been upgraded and modernised and natures sites created or enhanced.

The grants of between £500 and £300,000 have helped create hundreds of jobs and train thousands of people, giving them new skills to get a job or volunteering role.

One of those groups to benefit was Our Community Foundation, based at Naseby Community Centre in Alum Rock, and received £75,000 funding.

It was set up in 2006 in response to a lack of opportunities for young people to take part in sport, extra-curricular education, and to help them find jobs and training.

Since then the charity has supported 10,500 young people and their families in an area of the city with high levels of youth unemployment and disengaged young people.

The money from the Inclusive Communities Fund has opened up sports activities to another 150 local young people, helped the foundation employ a new mentor and take on a sports coordinator apprentice, and draw up a longer-term strategy to support more local families.

Basharat Dad, founder and chief executive of Our Community Foundation, said: “Our inclusive communities funding was a game-changer.

“It allowed us to expand our impact on the ground while investing in the systems, people, and strategy needed for long-term change.

“It didn’t just fund our activities, it helped us build the foundations for the future through our youth and community-led strategic framework that will guide us through 2025 to 2030.”

Mr Parker, who visited Our Community Foundation this week, said: “We’ve put £13 million into 400 grassroots groups.

“That’s an astonishing 800,000 lives improved with better physical and mental wellbeing, new skills, improved job prospects, and brighter futures.

“I saw for myself how Our Community Foundation is tapping into the unique ability of sport to bring young people together in East Birmingham and set them on exciting new paths in life.

“My Growth for Everyone plan is about making sure no one is left behind and that’s why we are breaking down barriers to create real opportunities, better life chances, and healthier, more sustainable communities for generations to come.”

The Inclusive Communities Fund and the Community Environment Fund were part of the West Midlands Combined Authority’s Commonwealth Games Legacy Enhancement Fund with money from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

The legacy fund was set up to pay for projects that ensured the positive and long-lasting legacy from the Birmingham 2022 Games would be felt right across the region.