Join us for an interactive exhibition where you can meet the brave volunteer knights, take a seat on the Throne of Legacy, and listen to incredible stories beneath the Echo Wood Radio Tree. Share your hopes for the future in the Wishing Well, underneath the iconic Ozzy the Bull.
United By 2022 Charity, born from the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, connects businesses with community groups to strengthen the West Midlands. Backed by £5 million, it drives five key programmes supporting volunteers, young people, and grassroots organisations, fostering inclusion and lasting pride.
These programmes have been generously funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority through the Commonwealth Games Legacy Enhancement Fund.
All data is captured from April 2023 – December 2024.
After the Great Games, the people of the West Midlands found themselves at a crossroads: would 2022 be remembered as a single moment in time, or the start of something bigger? In the heart of the Great Region, where leaders gathered, the Throne of Legacy stood. It was here that the United By 2022 Charity declared, “Though the Great Games have ended, our mission continues. We must take the friendships, memories, and inspiration they sparked, and use them to shape the future. Let’s turn this pride into new possibilities for our Great Region.”
From this day on, communities, volunteers, and young people from all corners of the Great Region have come together to share their skills and their time, creating lasting memories and friendships and sharing in their pride. This is the story of how the West Midlands created something greater. Sit on the Throne of Legacy and feel the impact.
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These programmes have been generously funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority through the Commonwealth Games Legacy Enhancement Fund.
All data is captured from April 2023- December 2024.
The Great Games had brought people together in extraordinary ways, but with time, the people worried the excitement and pride could fade. To keep it alive, 921 volunteer knights answered the call. They formed the Volunteers Collective, uniting past volunteers with new opportunities to give their time in the pursuit of something bigger. These brave knights came from all corners of the Great Region—Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall, and Solihull—and together, they gave 24,270 hours to 79 events, ensuring the spirit of collaboration and pride continued in the place they called home.
*24,270 hours of volunteering delivered
**921 volunteers submitted at least one expression of interest
***79 sporting, cultural and community events
The legacy of the Great Games wasn’t only about memorable moments; it was about the lasting systems of change it created. Like cogs in a machine, oiled by the trust and shared purpose created by the Great Games, 170 organisations and communities worked together to build resilience and skills across the Great Region. These partnerships were rooted in inclusivity, with businesses, charities and community groups coming together to ensure everyone had fair access to resources and opportunities. This kept the cogs of change turning, powering a future of shared prosperity that included more of the people with the hardest lives.
*170 community groups make up the United By 2022 family
**617 attendees at 50 United By Family training sessions across 13 locations
***£2,750,000 verified Social Value
At the heart of the Great Region stood the Bridge of Possibilities, linking past achievements with future opportunities. Across the bridge, the voices of 546 young people rang out, each one breaking barriers and creating pathways for a better future. Built by 14 organisations and 14 young leaders, the bridge was a symbol of progress. Together, they laid the first stones toward a stronger future, where confidence and resilience flourished. Stepping onto this bridge meant stepping into a brighter tomorrow.
*14 projects delivered by 2 flagship organisations and 12 grassroots organisations
**546 Gen 22 participants aged 16-24 completed a 30 hour skills boosting placement
***14 Ideas Made Real projects were funded, planned and delivered by 31 participants
****Participants completed 22,390 hours of social action
Like a lion leading with strength, the Great Region’s commitment to inclusivity was its guiding force. Hundreds of young people came together with courage, united by a shared passion for movement and performance. As they danced together, they embraced their differences and celebrated their similarities, learning new skills both in dance and in life. They created a space where everyone, regardless of disability, can thrive—growing in skills, confidence, and resilience.
Data
*352 Critical Mass Participants
**341 inclusive dance sessions
***18 delivery organisations across 25 locations
The leaders of the Great Region had one final wish – that women and girls across the realm felt included in the opportunities and experiences of sport, art and culture. They cast their wish into the well, a symbol of hope and inclusivity. As their dream was cast into the water, it created ripples of change. These ripples travelled through the schools and colleges of the Great Region, reaching 1,403 children. The ripples continued, touching 13,557 students across 82 schools, colleges, and community groups. Through these efforts, networks grew stronger, and a shared commitment to wellbeing spread across the Great Region, including more women and girls and leaving a lasting impact on future generations.
Data
*352 Critical Mass Participants
**341 inclusive dance sessions
***18 delivery organisations across 25 locations
That was our story and now it’s time for yours. Stand before the well and make your wish for the future of the Great Region. Dream big, we’ve seen how far one ripple can travel.
Write yourself into the next chapter – nearby, the Inkpot and Quill await, alongside the Tree of Stories, where the voices of the past still echo, guiding the future. Here, you are invited to share your words, adding your voice to the story and ensuring the next chapter of the Great Region includes you.
Look toward the horizon and you’ll see the Tree of Stories. Gather beneath its branches to listen to the voices that carry forward the legacy of the Great Region. These stories are of resilience, collaboration, and transformation—stories that ensure the impact of the Great Games will never be forgotten and will inspire the future.
Hear the stories of:
Welcome to The Echo Wood Radio where you can hear the real stories of transformation from across the West Midlands.
These voices tell of resilience, collaboration, and change, ensuring that the impact of the Games will never be forgotten.
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