AN EVENT to celebrate £11.8million being awarded to community organisations across the region in seven months.
A Commonwealth Games legacy fund saw over £11.8m awarded to 388 community organisations across the West Midlands and Warwickshire.
An Inclusive Communities Fund event was held at Coventry Building Society Arena in a day of celebration in recognition of the organisations which have been awarded funding for projects which are making a difference to communities.
The Inclusive Communities Fund was set up by the West Midlands Combined Authority with funding from the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport, and administered by the Heart of England Community Foundation.
The event was hosted by the Foundation and was compered by radio personality Brody Swain, and guests included the award beneficiaries, stakeholders and other regional funders.
Tina Costello OBE, chief executive of Heart of England Community Foundation, and Richard Parker, mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA chair also addressed the guests.
Tina said: “This event was a real celebration of the amazing voluntary and community sector organisations that benefitted from the Inclusive Communities Fund.
“What we wanted from this fund was to create a real long-lasting legacy for the voluntary and community sector across the region, and I certainly feel like we’ve achieved that.
“This is the largest programme that the Foundation has ever delivered and we wanted to make sure it was transparent, fair and inclusive, so we recruited a diverse panel of individuals who represented the wonderful West Midlands and Warwickshire and made the decision on the grants.”
Richard added: “This funding has opened up new opportunities for thousands of local people to get involved in sports, arts, and community activities – often for the first time.
“For many, it has been truly life-changing, giving them the chance to learn new skills and connect with their communities.
“This support goes directly to the heart of our communities, helping tackle issues like health inequalities, social isolation, and inactivity. It’s these kinds of changes that build stronger communities and create brighter futures for generations to come.”
