Through Birmingham 2026’s impact plan ‘Beyond’ – a programme created to inspire positive, lasting change across the region linked to this summer’s European Athletics Championships – organisers are creating new opportunities for communities and amplifying existing initiatives that are already making a difference across the West Midlands.
A recent example is the installation of Active Playgrounds, transformative outdoor spaces funded by the London Marathon Foundation that are benefiting 11 schools and almost 4000 children throughout the region.
Play is an important first step for many children in developing healthy, active habits, yet less than half of children in England currently meet the Chief Medical Officers’ recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity (Sport England Active Lives Children and Young People Survey, 2025).
Using creative and colourful markings to encourage movement throughout the school day, the installation of the new Active Playgrounds (designed by Fun and Active Playgrounds) aims to inspire and champion physical activity for children and young people from early years through to leaving school, supporting their physical, mental and social wellbeing.
One of the first Active Playgrounds to be installed in the West Midlands was at Goldthorn Park Primary School in Wolverhampton.
Sam Middleton, Assistant Headteacher at Goldthorn Park Primary School, said: “We’ve brought life into the tired playground which would have been difficult for us to fund. We now have a playground that looks cared for and is something the children really want to engage in.
“The children really enjoy it. It’s a chance for them to be active with their friends so it’s quite sociable. The goal is about movement rather than competition and they can go at their own pace – even completing just one lap of the Active Playground gives them a real sense of achievement. They can see the link from being active and the benefits that come with it.
“Some of the parents have even been using it, and we want to hold some family school community events now we have this transformed space. It’s inspired me as a staff member to see how we can encourage healthy and active habits for children for the long term, habits that will stay with them long after they’ve left Goldthorn Park.”
Since launching regionally in Wolverhampton, and as part of the London Marathon Foundation’s commitment to transforming outdoor spaces in schools in areas of high deprivation across England and Wales, ten additional Active Playgrounds have now been installed in the West Midlands.
The eleven schools are: Goldthorn Park Primary School, Dovecotes Primary School and Dunstall Hill Primary School (Wolverhampton); Earlsdon Primary School (Coventry); Kingshurst Primary School and Fordbridge Community Primary School (Solihull); Prince Albert Junior & Infant School, Birchfield Primary School, Glenmead Primary School and Osborne Primary School (Birmingham); and Short Heath Junior School (Walsall).
The Beyond framework, which has been built to connect partners and inspire new activity in addition to highlighting existing initiatives, is shaped by three central pillars: providing community benefit through athletics and running; delivering an environmentally conscious championships; and improving accessibility and inclusion for all.
Activities aligned with Beyond include support for The Daily Mile events in schools, diversifying junior parkruns, creating new apprenticeship and volunteering pathways, and encouraging sustainable travel for fans and participants.
The Birmingham 2026 European Athletics Championships take place from 10-16 August. Tickets go back on sale in March – sign up to receive alerts here.
For more about the Beyond Programme, click here.