From Leftover to Lifeline: How the Commonwealth Games Tackled Social Needs in Birmingham

The Challenge: Beyond the Medals

Large-scale sporting events often bring excitement and investment to host cities. But once the final race is run and the crowds go home, the question of lasting impact remains. Too often, the opportunity to create meaningful community benefit fades with the spotlight.

At the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, organisers faced a familiar challenge. What happens to the thousands of items brought in to make athletes feel at home? White goods, bathroom supplies, kitchen equipment and furniture helped create a welcoming village for competitors from around the world. But what would become of it all once the Games were over?

The Solution: A Community-First Approach

Instead of recycling or discarding the leftover items, the Birmingham 2022 team partnered with Event Cycle to repurpose them with purpose. The aim was simple: reduce waste and redirect value.

Event Cycle worked closely with the Organising Committee to identify local organisations that could benefit, match items to specific needs, and coordinate logistics to get materials where they were most needed. Everything from kettles to sports equipment was catalogued, collected and given a second life.

Impact in Action

Victory Church

Victory Church runs a range of community-facing programmes, from children’s clubs and family support to venue hire for local events. However, they operate with limited resources and often struggle to enhance their facilities.

They received deck chairs for outdoor gatherings, toilet brushes for their bathrooms, and children’s items such as a French boules set and foam dart pistols to support sensory and play activities. These donations helped the church create more welcoming and versatile spaces, enabling them to improve their events and better serve the families that rely on them.

Help a Squaddie

Help a Squaddie supports veterans experiencing homelessness and mental health challenges, with a particular focus on early intervention. The organisation had secured funding to open a much-needed Veterans Crisis House but lacked the practical items to make the facility operational.

Through the donation from the Games, they received kettles, toilet brushes and clothing that are now being used to equip the house and support the veterans moving in. These items provided the essential finishing touches for a safe, dignified environment. Kerry Urquhart, CEO, explained:

Balsall Heath Children’s Action Team Support (BHCATS)

BHCATS supports children and young people with a wide range of disabilities, delivering inclusive play and leisure activities. With limited funding and a growing network of over 80 families, they needed resources to create stimulating and accessible environments.

The donation included flags, office supplies, rope, hand towels, baskets, cable ties, pliers and a mini golf set. These items allowed BHCATS to enhance their play spaces and activity areas, making them more engaging and supportive for children with complex needs. The team is now better equipped to deliver after-school and weekend sessions that foster confidence, independence and inclusion.

5UP CIC

5UP CIC provides a gym and youth space for young people in Handsworth, many of whom are excluded from mainstream opportunities or at risk of social isolation. Their challenge was creating a clean, welcoming and fully functioning facility with limited core funding.

They received kettles and crockery for their kitchenette, as well as towels and fans for the gym. These practical additions helped 5UP create a more supportive, comfortable space for the young people they work with, while also strengthening their reputation as a trusted, community-led organisation.

Birmingham Youth Sports Academy (BYSA)

BYSA had recently taken over a disused park space and was working to turn it into a safe, active hub for young people in Small Heath. While the site had strong potential, it lacked even the most basic equipment to run effective sessions.

Through the donation, they received high-value Astroturf to develop the pitch, as well as towels, antibacterial sprays and playmats for their facilities and partner gyms. This equipment made it possible to deliver regular football, basketball and summer programmes for over 100 local children in a clean and safe environment.

Too often, large sporting events come and go without leaving lasting benefits for the communities that host them. Resources are used once, then wasted. Opportunities to support vulnerable groups are missed.

What might have been written off as leftovers and stored or recycled in Birmingham became a lifeline for dozens of community groups across the Midlands. In total, 15 charities received practical, high-quality goods that allowed them to do more with less, saving money, strengthening services and supporting the people who need it most.

By repurposing resources through Event Cycle, the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games did more than minimise waste. It built a social legacy rooted in care, community and action, proving that when planned with intention, sporting events can be a powerful force for good.

Jess Fidler, Head of Sustainability for Birmingham 2022, said:

Want to do the same with your event? Let’s talk.eventcycleuk@gmail.com