VIY: Our work in sport
Making places and spaces for sport and physical activity more inclusive and sustainable for the future since 2011
renovated
upskilled
working in collaboration
positively impacted
We’re all about collaboration
Our mission – to boost young people’s skills and work-readiness whilst renovating vital community spaces and places – is all harnessed through the power of partnerships.
Helping grassroots sports clubs and community spaces to survive and thrive through improved facilities and environments for more movement to take place, places young people use and benefit from, has always been a big part of this mission since we began in 2011.
To do this, we take a place-based approach to improving local sports facilities and active community spaces, bringing together like-minded partners to jointly bring impactful projects to life and make a difference to people and communities in their local areas – you can see how this works below. By working together, this helps us broaden what’s possible and ultimately achieve wider and more sustainable social and community impact.
Click the logos and links throughout this page to see plenty examples of our projects on the ground, working together with a broad range of partners across the country to boost sport and physical activity, along with a range of local partners in places where our support is needed most.
Click each logo below to see our work together across many of our place and purpose based partnerships
What’s our impact on spaces for sports and physical activity?
We help clubs and spaces become more sustainable and inclusive:
Transforming facilities and creating spaces to increase participation in movement with Sport England
Levelling up communities in need with councils & local authorities through people and places
Boosting income generation and financial sustainability at sports clubs and active spaces
82% of spaces renovated so far by VIY with Sport England reported increased confidence for the future sustainability of their venue (2020-2023)
“Since the work has been going on, we’ve received such amazing feedback – many new people have been phoning to find out how they can join the club and previous members returning from before the pandemic.”
Chrissie Roe, Founder, TPF Parkour & Gymnastics Club, Norwich – see how we boosted her club here
We deliver social impact in the heart of local communities:
Positively impacting health & wellbeing, including spaces for social-prescribing
Growing skills, reducing crime with regional Police Commissioner Funds
Creating better connected and more integrated communities
89% young volunteers expressed improved wellbeing after taking part in VIY (2023-24)
“I can see a change in their attitudes towards authority… they’re more willing to talk to us, be friendly and nice to people – it’s nice to have the experience that the police can work with these young people on the ground and build a better reputation with them.”
Hear more here from Adam Bettison, PCSO, Coventry Police – who co-funded two projects following their first experience on a VIY project
We change young people’s lives:
Jack – PRU to paid work one week later, Coventry
Honey – Homeschooled to home Decorator in training, Norwich
Ali – VIY volunteer turned Apprentice, Nottingham
93% of young people’s aspirations increased following their experience with VIY (2023-24)
