Communities across the West Midlands hosted over 100 events after being awarded over £170,000 of National Lottery funding as part of the first West Midlands Mayor’s Community Weekend since the pandemic.
The weekend of community-led activity took place thanks to a partnership between Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest community funder in the UK. Communities were invited to apply for grants between £500 and £2,000, to host activities across the two-day event that encourages different groups to come together to strengthen connections and build new relationships.
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA Chair, said: “It was wonderful to see and meet so many local groups right across our region coming together this weekend to celebrate the diversity and community spirit that is in such abundant supply here.
“We were determined to bring the Mayor’s Community Weekend back this year - bigger and better than ever before - with more funding secured and grants increased to help local people get involved and put on great events.
“Whether it’s welcoming the Black British Book Festival Book Tour to Wolverhampton, attending a fantastic, subsidised community event in Balsall Heath celebrating Windrush, or recognising umbrella events where one organisation collaborates with numerous smaller ones to create larger, more impactful gatherings, the depth of community engagement we’ve witnessed this year has been remarkable. I’m grateful to the more than 100 organisations who participated in this weekend, and the more than 250 organisations who directly contributed to its success.”
