As the festive season arrives and the longer nights draw in, the wonderful sun-lit success of last summer’s Birmingham Commonwealth Games suddenly seems a million years ago.

But in this Christmas column, I want to tell you about how community groups across the region could get a New Year boost thanks to the legacy of the Games.

A £9 million pot of Commonwealth Games legacy cash is being made available for grassroots projects that will unite communities across the West Midlands and get local people more physically and mentally active.

Right now, community groups, charities, not-for-profit organisations, schools and colleges can bid for a share of the Inclusive Communities Fund - the biggest amount of legacy money to be given out in public grants.

Grants of between £500 and £300,000 are available for projects that will ensure the positive and long-lasting legacy from last summer’s Games is felt right across the region.

These could include improvements to local facilities, grassroots sports, community, arts and cultural events, and major projects. All must share the Fund’s goal of bringing people together, improving health and wellbeing, helping the region to grow, and putting the region on the map.

This money is being made available for the benefit of local people after the Government agreed to invest the £70 million Games underspend back into the region.

The Inclusive Communities Fund is being delivered by the WMCA in partnership with the Heart of England Community Foundation and United by 2022, the Official Games Legacy Charity.

With this new fund, we’re putting a significant amount of cash directly into the hands of local people in communities right across our region for them to decide exactly how to spend it.

Right from the moment the West Midlands was chosen to host the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, we were clear that the Games must leave a lasting legacy at grassroots level far beyond the summer of sporting spectacle. As we once again enjoy the season of goodwill, this money shows we’re delivering on that objective.

It’s something I think we can all welcome. May I wish you a very Merry Christmas.

For more details on applying for funds, click here: www.wmca.org.uk/what-we-do/commonwealth-games-legacy-enhancement-fund/inclusive-communities

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