Launch of free community athletics provision launched across four Birmingham wards

Personal Best Foundation, has launched its largest initiative to date: four new Community Athletics Hubs across Birmingham, creating a city‑wide network of free, inclusive after‑school athletics provision for children living in some of the city’s most under‑served communities.

The expansion comes ahead of the 2026 European Athletics Championships, which will be hosted this summer in Birmingham, and builds on the city’s first pilot hub that launched in Sparkbrook last year - with the help of delivery partner Street Futures.

With the addition of these new hubs, five Birmingham wards are now supported: Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East, Castle Vale, Lozells, Ward End and Nechells - areas collectively home to 14,927 children living in poverty.

Addressing deep-rooted inequalities in childhood poverty and physical activity

Birmingham faces some of the most significant inequalities in the country, ranking 3rd nationally on the Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI). Currently, 61.7% of children aged 0–15 (around 149,300 out of 241,971) live in income‑deprived households.

Physical activity levels are also below the national average:

• 42% of young people in Birmingham meet the recommended 60 minutes of daily activity (vs 49% nationally)
• 38% are classified as inactive
• Children from Black and Asian communities and lower‑income households are disproportionately affected

With 28% of Birmingham’s population aged under 20, the need for safe, inclusive, local spaces for children to be active and supported is clear.

Launch celebrated at Community Athletics Festival at Alexander Stadium

The milestone initiative was officially launched at the Community Athletics Festival on Saturday 30 May at Alexander Stadium. Delivered by StreetGames and Access Sport, the event forms part of the Beyond Framework - the social impact model designed to create a lasting legacy from the 2026 European Athletics Championships.

More than 450 children attended the festival, experiencing athletics and community sport at the iconic venue. For many, the newly funded Community Athletics Hubs will now provide a free, local pathway to continue participating in athletics long after the Championships.

funetics at the heart of the programme

At the core of each hub is funetics, an inclusive England Athletics programme for children aged 4–11. funetics helps young people develop fundamental running, jumping and throwing skills through fun, game‑based activities that build confidence, movement skills and enjoyment of physical activity.

For children living in poverty, access to organised sport is often out of reach due to cost, transport, equipment and lack of local provision. With more than 100,000 children in Birmingham currently living in poverty, the hubs aim to remove these barriers entirely.

Free weekly sessions designed for activity, connection and confidence

Each Community Athletics Hub will provide free 90‑minute weekly sessions, intentionally designed to offer:

• 45–60 minutes of physical activity
• Time to socialise and build friendships
• Opportunities to develop trusted relationships with leaders and peers
• A safe, nurturing environment rooted in the local community

The hubs are delivered in partnership with trusted local organisations with deep community relationships and strong understanding of local needs.

One hub, delivered by The Pioneer Group in Castle Vale - will also pilot a SEND‑focused offer, developed with Personal Best Foundation and Access Sport, ensuring children with additional needs can participate in a way that works for them.

Building long-term community capacity and sustainability

Personal Best Foundation will fully fund the first year of delivery across all hubs, removing financial barriers from day one. Delivery partners have received funetics training, equipment and ongoing support for their coaches and leaders.

The initiative is designed as a long-term community investment, with ambitions to:

• Continue supporting hubs beyond year one
• Provide ongoing workforce development
• Establish a Young Leaders volunteering initiative to build sustainability and local ownership

Where our Birmingham Community Hubs are located:

• Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East – delivered by Street Futures
• Lozells – delivered by Aspire and Succeed
• Castle Vale – delivered by The Pioneer Group
• Ward End – delivered through Unity Hub in partnership with Street Futures
• Nechells – delivered by free@Last

Over the last six months, Personal Best Foundation has worked closely with Access Sport and StreetGames to bring these hubs to life, ensuring the initiative contributes to a meaningful and sustainable community legacy connected to the 2026 European Athletics Championships.

Alex Haydock‑Wilson, Olympian and Personal Best Foundation Ambassador

‘’As an athlete, I know first-hand the impact sport can have on a young person’s life. These five new Community Athletics Hubs will give more children and young people across the Birmingham the chance to get active, build confidence and be part of a positive community. Athletics brings people together, and every child deserves the opportunity to experience that.’’

Jane Barrett, The Pioneer Group, Youth Team Leader:

“Being part of the Community Athletics Hubs launch is incredibly exciting for the Pioneer Group and our newly trained funetics Activators. These hubs will give children and young people, including those who need SEND‑specific support - a safe, accessible and inclusive space to be active, build confidence and discover what they can achieve through movement. We’re proud to bring this opportunity to Castle Vale, creating a joyful and fun experience of athletics where children can run jump throw and smile’’

Amy Weaver‑Tyler, Foundation Manager, Personal Best Foundation

“This is a landmark moment for Personal Best Foundation and a hugely important step forward for children and families across Birmingham. Too many children living in poverty are missing out on opportunities to be active, build confidence and feel part of something positive simply because access to sport is not always affordable or accessible. These Community Athletics Hubs are about much more than athletics. They are about belonging, confidence, relationships and creating safe spaces within communities where children can thrive.By working alongside trusted local organisations who truly understand their communities, we can ensure these opportunities reach the children who need them most. Launching this initiative during the Community Athletics Festival at Alexander Stadium made the moment even more special. Seeing over 450 children experience athletics in such an iconic venue was incredibly powerful — but what matters most is knowing there is now a free community pathway for many of those children to continue that journey long after the festival ended.”

References

1. Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI)
   Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (2019). English Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) 2019 – Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index.
2. Child population and poverty figures
   End Child Poverty Coalition (2023). Local Child Poverty Statistics 2023 – Birmingham.
3. Physical activity levels among children and young people
   Sport England (2023). Active Lives Children and Young People Survey 2022–23.
4. Population under age 20
   Office for National Statistics (2023). Population Estimates for the UK, England and Wales.
5. Children living in poverty in Birmingham (100,000+ figure)
   Public Health England (2021). Wider Determinants of Health: Birmingham Local Authority Profile.