Coventry secures Sport England funding to build 2022 Commonwealth Games legacy

Sport England has announced £624,624 of funding for Coventry as part of its wider investment into the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The aim of the funding is to tackle inactivity in local communities and engage under represented groups, such as people on lower incomes and disabled people – a key part of Sport England’s 10-year strategy Uniting the Movement.

The National Lottery-funded investment has been awarded to Coventry City Council as part of a £3m Commonwealth Active Communities Fund. It was awarded to three other West Midlands areas – Solihull, Birmingham and the Black Country – to support the creation of a wide range of opportunities to help people get active in their local streets and parks.

The funding announcement for Coventry comes as Sport England’s latest Active Lives Survey found inactivity levels in the West Midlands have worsened since the start of the pandemic, with over 100,000 more inactive adults and nearly 70,000 fewer active adults.

Cllr Kamran Caan, cabinet member for public health and sport at Coventry City Council, said: “It’s great news that we have been successful in securing £625,000 of funding from the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

“We plan to develop a number of new activities with partners in the lead up to the Games, as well as build on the success of schemes like Go Parks.

“The funding will aim to help residents who are isolated and less active in the community take part in sport and physical activity to improve their wellbeing as well helping the city’s young people to get involved in local activity.

“Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games is another major event for our city to help inspire and work with all of our communities at a local level.”

Tim Hollingsworth, CEO of Sport England, said: “The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games is a massive moment for the nation next year and an exciting chance to bring people together through sport and activity. The challenge is turning this into a legacy that has lasting impact and helps people to connect and stay active. Legacy is dependent on the creation of long-term local opportunities for people – at the right location and at the right cost.

“That is why the Commonwealth Active Communities Fund is so important. It’s building the foundations to create change that lasts in the West Midlands – bringing communities together and getting people active in a long-term, sustainable way well beyond the 2022 Commonwealth Games.”