Birmingham 2022 Adds 21 Projects To Community Initiative

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games has added 21 new projects to its official community programme.

The news means organisers of the Games have almost trebled the number of initiatives that are part of the United by Birmingham 2022 programme, which launched in March 2020 with the aim of bringing together community projects from across the West Midlands which are aligned to the vision and mission of the event.

Commonwealth Gold medal winning netballer, Ama Agbeze (pictured above), and the Official Ambassador for the United by Birmingham 2022 Programme, said; “I’m really excited to see the United By Birmingham 2022 community programme growing so fast, in spite of the unprecedented situation with COVID-19. 

“It is great to see all of these fantastic projects, which provide opportunities for local people, being added to the initiative.”

The projects include two additions which support people into employment. Positive Pathways, a scheme to help people with disabilities through employability courses, and Sport 4 Life UK, which supports young people from underprivileged backgrounds as well as those from black, Asian and minority ethnic groups

Others include Strike a Change, a mentoring programme for young people from the Cyrille Regis Legacy Trust, and three projects from Sport Birmingham: Pathway to Podium, Birmingham Inclusive Sports Fest and the Birmingham School Games.

Ian Reid, Chief Executive for Birmingham 2022, said: “We’ve been delighted by the interest in United By Birmingham 2022 since we officially launched this community programme a couple of months ago.

“It has been a really difficult time for many people across the region and so the work that these projects do is more crucial than ever, as they are uniting communities, helping people of all ages to improve their health and wellbeing and supporting those in need. We are really pleased to be able to help these organisations raise the profile of their projects through the Games.”

Organisers say that not for profit organisations are awarded United by Birmingham 2022 status if they can demonstrate how they share a common purpose with the Games. Successful projects are permitted to use the community programme’s logo in communications and at events.