Personal Best Foundation, the official charity of England Athletics, has announced the launch of five new Community Athletics Hubs across Birmingham. This will create a citywide network of free, inclusive athletic sessions for children living in some of the city’s most underserved communities in time for the 2026 European Athletics Championships.
The expansion means that five Birmingham wards now have a Community Athletics Hub—areas which collectively are home to 14,927 children living in poverty. With just 42% of young people in Birmingham meeting the recommended 60 minutes of daily activity (compared with around 49% nationally), there is a clear need for safe spaces to get young people active.
Alex Haydock-Wilson, Olympian and Personal Best Foundation Ambassador, said: “These five new Community Athletics Hubs will give more children and young people across 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.”
The five Community Athletics Hubs now operating across Birmingham are:
- 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)
What do the Community Athletics Hubs offer?
The new Hubs provide free weekly 90-minute sessions designed not only to give children 45+ minutes of physical activity but also time to socialise and build friendships. While inclusive and open to all, The Pioneer Group in Castle Vale will also pilot an additional SEND-focused session, developed in collaboration with Personal Best Foundation and Access Sport.
Personal Best Foundation will fully fund the first year to remove financial barriers and ensure children can access sessions free of charge from day one. As part of the initiative, all delivery partners have received funetics training alongside equipment and ongoing support for their coaches and leaders.
The initiative has been designed to create sustainable pathways into sport for children and young people. Beyond the first year, the charity hopes to continue supporting the hubs through ongoing training opportunities, workforce development and the creation of a Young Leaders volunteering initiative.
“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,” said Amy Weaver-Tyler, Foundation Manager at Personal Best Foundation.
“These Community Athletics Hubs are about much more than athletics. They are about fun and enjoyment, building confidence, fostering a sense of belonging and creating safe, supportive spaces 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.”
You can learn more about the Community Athletics Hubs in Birmingham here.
