The Social Legacy of the Commonwealth Games: Real Impact Beyond the Arena

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games aimed to leave a lasting positive impact on the city. However, organisers faced a challenge: ensuring that the Games genuinely benefited the local community, particularly disadvantaged groups.

While the spotlight was on the sporting achievements, another kind of legacy was quietly being built. Behind the scenes, the temporary offices that had supported the delivery of the Games were being dismantled. Along with them, hundreds of items that could have easily gone to waste were no longer needed.

To tackle this, the organisers partnered with Event Cycle to ensure those items found new life where they were most needed.

We handled the entire redistribution process, from cataloguing surplus furniture to identifying the right recipient organisations and coordinating deliveries. This ensured that every item reached a charity, community group or social enterprise that could make immediate and meaningful use of it.

Through our redistribution network, 453 pieces of furniture and equipment were donated to 36 charities, community groups and social enterprises across the Midlands. These included chairs, desks, whiteboards, white goods, storage units and kitchen appliances. All practical items that helped community organisations do more for the people they serve.

The donations had a direct and lasting effect.

5UP CIC based in Handsworth, supports young people facing exclusion, deprivation and the threat of gang involvement. They provide a safe space for youth through physical training, mentoring and educational activities. The team recently secured a second venue to expand their services and launch a new gym under their sister project, 9UP CIC. This space offers free MMA classes and development opportunities for local young people. The donations from the Commonwealth Games, including microwaves, water dispensers, hand sanitisers, bins and boilers, allowed them to fit out the new facility at minimal cost. This accelerated their launch and freed up funds for youth-focused programmes.

Saheli Hub, a women-led charity with deep roots in inner-city Birmingham, supports women from ethnically diverse and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. They offer health and wellbeing programmes, fitness sessions, social groups and training designed to build confidence and improve quality of life. Ninety-one percent of their participants live in the most deprived areas of the city. With a new site recently secured, Saheli Hub faced the costly and time-consuming task of making it operational. Thanks to furniture and kitchen equipment donated via Event Cycle, they were able to furnish their welcome area, training rooms and kitchen space quickly and cost-effectively. This allowed them to begin supporting women without delay.

Birmingham Youth Sports Academy (BYSA) began as a grassroots football initiative in Small Heath and has grown into a major community-led programme focused on youth engagement through sport. Their work supports young people from predominantly South Asian backgrounds, offering physical activity, mentorship and life skills. In 2022, BYSA took over a neglected park and disused building between Sparkbrook and Small Heath with a vision to transform it into a vibrant sports hub. With no existing infrastructure, they relied on donations to bring the space to life. Items from the Games, including over £3,500 worth of AstroTurf as well as whiteboards, tables and chairs, played a critical role in helping BYSA create a safe and inclusive environment. Over 100 children now regularly attend football, basketball and other activities.

This effort reached a wide network of organisations, including Acorns Children’s Hospice, The Active Wellbeing Society, Help a Squaddie, City of Birmingham Hockey Club and many others. In total, the items donated were worth an estimated £47,327, allowing each organisation to reinvest their savings into frontline services and long-term impact.

By partnering with Event Cycle, the Birmingham Commonwealth Games achieved a tangible social legacy. The Games' organisers transformed excess resources into opportunities for community development, proving that large-scale events can be a catalyst for positive social change.

If you want your event to leave more than just memories, let us help build your legacy.

Contact: eventcycleuk@gmail.com