THOUSANDS of Coventry residents are more physically and mentally active thanks to two community schemes helping deliver the legacy from last year’s Commonwealth Games, writes Cam Watson.
Coventry Moves is one of four Sport England-funded Commonwealth Active Communities (CAC) set up in the West Midlands to draw inspiration from the games to tackle inactivity.
It has brought 5,500 local people together for activities in public spaces and care homes across the city.
The Coventry-based Guardian Ballers are now able to run more basketball and other educational sessions thanks to the games equipment used by elite athletes.
They received the equipment through the Commonwealth Games kit giveaway run by Sport England, the Birmingham 2022 Organising Committee and the Department for Digital, Culture Media and Sport (DCMS).
Since forming in 2021, the Ballers have helped improve the mental, physical and emotional wellbeing of almost 4,000 young people.
A new partnership between the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and Sport England is aiming to build on the success of groups, such as Coventry Moves and Guardian Ballers, by providing grants and other support for more community-led sports schemes.
These projects are aimed at making it easier for people to take part in exercise or play sport more frequently.
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), has visited Coventry Moves and Guardian Ballers as part of a tour of the region one year on from the Games to see how communities are benefitting from last summer’s sporting spectacle.
Mr Street said: “Coventry Moves and Guardian Ballers are wonderful examples of a tangible sporting legacy following on from last summer’s Commonwealth Games.
“I was determined to deliver a lasting impact for our region – including Coventry – proving the positive impact that getting active and meeting new people can have on our overall physical and mental health.
“Our Legacy Enhancement Fund – combined with additional investment from Sport England – will create even more opportunities for local people to get more active in their own communities and help address historic health inequalities that persist in our region.”
The Commonwealth Games Legacy Fund came about after the Government, following discussions with Mr Street and the WMCA, agreed to invest the £70million underspend back into the region so Birmingham 2022 would continue to benefit the region and have a positive impact for many years to come.
Email [email protected] to enquire about the WMCA Commonwealth Games Legacy Enhancement Fund.
