Birmingham City Council delivers £2million investment in wellbeing centres and community sports facilities across Birmingham

The project strengthens opportunities for residents to get active, get involved with sport and live healthier, happier lives, with a particular focus on supporting a variety of sports and improving facilities in some of Birmingham’s most deprived communities. 

A total of £966,000 was allocated to improvements across Birmingham’s six wellbeing centres and Linden Road Swimming Pool, with a further £966,000 supporting sports clubs and facilities citywide.

Upgrades to Birmingham’s Wellbeing Centres

Investment in the Wellbeing centres follows feedback from both residents and staff to ensure priorities of the communities who rely on these facilities most are reflected in the investment.

Facilities upgrade across the city includes gym improvements at Small Heath, Nechells and Kingstanding, new boilers at Saltley and toilet works at Handsworth.

At Linden Road Swimming Pool, investment has enabled the creation of new changing spaces, including a dedicated baby changing room and new shower area. The funding has also enabled investment in specialist equipment including new toning tables at Shard End and new LED lighting for the astro pitch at Small Heath.  

The funding has also created additional spaces for Be Active + (Exercise on Prescription) programme at Handsworth and Kingstanding, which provides tailored physical activity programmes to residents with long term health conditions.

Supporting Birmingham’s grassroots sport

Seven Birmingham sports clubs were supported through the Shared Prosperity Fund, with investment focused on improving infrastructure, reflecting community needs and creating more opportunities for people to get involved in sport.

This funding strengthened a wide range of grassroots sports across the city, including the creation of new cricket bays at Sparkhill Cricket Club and the development of a new all‑weather outdoor volleyball court at Ward End Park, ensuring residents have access to high‑quality facilities all year round.

Funding has enabled Midland Sailing Club to purchase of two disability‑accessible Hansa 303 boats and a new safety boat to support with the expansion of their popular Sailability programme. Whilst Birmingham BMX Club used their funding to build a new front-of-house reception and first aid facilities, to complement their racetrack and provide a welcoming space for participants, volunteers and spectators.

At both Wyndley Leisure Centre and Alexander Stadium funding delivered through Birmingham Community Leisure Trust (BCLT) enabled track cleaning and line markings at both, alongside new junior hurdles at Alexander Stadium.

The new hurdles will support both training and competitive events, with the improvements set to benefit Birmingham’s athletics community, including local clubs Royal Sutton Coldfield AC and Birchfield Harriers.

Investment also supported Ackers (BYSA) with the construction of two new floodlit cricket bays and a levelled multi‑sport area, increasing opportunities for hundreds of young people who regularly use the site.

Cllr Mariam Khan, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, said: “This investment has delivered real improvements for communities and residents across Birmingham. I am really pleased to have targeted this investment in both our wellbeing centres which are a vital part of our service, helping our most vulnerable residents to improve their health and wellbeing in areas with high levels of health inequalities, as well as investing in our diverse array of grassroots sports clubs which play an essential role in promoting both physical and mental health. By upgrading facilities and expanding opportunities, this investment continue to support of our aims of helping people across Birmingham stay active, and lead healthier, happier lives.”

Mark McKeever, from Midland Sailing Club said: “We’re extremely grateful for this funding. ‘Sailability’ is a core part of what we do, it gives people with a wide range of physical and learning disabilities the opportunity to get out on the water and enjoy all aspects of dinghy sailing. You don’t need any previous knowledge or experience; we have all the necessary equipment and specially trained instructors and volunteers to assist people.”