New partnership to help more people Think Active

We’re excited to announce a new partnership in the West Midlands with Think Active, a grant-giving organisation whose initiatives support their vision for everyone to benefit from physical activity and enjoy a healthy and active lifestyle in safe and thriving communities.

Together, we’ll be refurbishing six community spaces across Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire to enable more physical activity to take place and ultimately, help more people in their local area to be more active.

This follows successful VIY projects in the region to date, such as creating an outdoor spectator and events space for Coventrians Rugby Club and refurbishing The Tin Music & Arts Venue, also in Coventry.

Ciara Grogan, VIY Programme Director for Sport, said:

“We’re really excited to be expanding our sports programmes across the Midlands, working with brilliant partners like Think Active. Not only will these refurbished spaces help attract and increase the number of people being active, but they will have enabled young people from the local area to boost their skills and confidence to take a positive next step towards their future.”

XXX from Think Active, said:

As well as funding from Think Active, these projects will be supported with match-funding from Sport England, plus material donations from our Trade Partners Dulux, GAP Tool Hire and Travis Perkins. Staff volunteers from Dulux’s Technical Advice Team (pictured above) also volunteered to paint for a day on the first project at Canley Community Centre.

Anne-Marie Corbett, Centre Manager for Canley Community Centre, our first project to benefit from this partnership, told us how much the works mean to them:

“We’re so grateful for the refresh VIY and 9 local volunteers have given to the centre. As a charitable organisation ourselves, the centre hasn’t been painted in 10 years due to slim resourcing and funds. In order to be able to best serve our community, through our food bank, local youth groups tackling knife crime and soon, local sports activities like yoga, dodgeball and fitness classes, we need to be looking our best to attract more people to use the centre and our services, whilst feeling comfortable to be in a bright, welcoming space, when they’re here. This full redecoration of the centre will do just that.”

Local young people from Coventry College volunteering to redecorate Canley Community Centre and gain their City & Guilds Entry Level 3 accreditation in Painting & Decoration, flanked by team members on the tools from Think Active & VIY

Our next projects together renovating community spaces for more local people to engage in physical activity include Bradby Youth Club in Rugby and Manor Park Rugby Football Club in Nuneaton. Head here to see all of our upcoming projects and to get involved.