Access Sport, with support from UK Sport and the London Marathon Foundation, is working together with a range of partners to deliver the ‘Beyond’ impact plan, a programme created to inspire positive, lasting change across Birmingham and the West Midlands linked to this summer’s European Athletics Championships (10-16 August).
Access Sport is a national sports inclusion charity. Its vision is a world where no young person is excluded from the life changing benefits of community sport and its mission is to make inclusion the norm.
As part of the Beyond programme, athletics clubs, coaches, and community sport providers from across the region have already had the opportunity to take part in Access Sport’s inclusion training for free, helping to ensure more young people are included in athletics provision within the region.
Anwar Khattak, founder of the Birmingham Youth Sports Academy (BYSA) Foundation, attended the ‘SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) in Community Sport’ and ‘Neurodiversity in Athletics’ training sessions delivered as part of Beyond.
“I attended these courses because it’s important that we can deliver appropriate training to those who need it, and we know from our partners that there is a demand for it,” he said. “I believe that sport is for all, and having the European Athletics Championships in our city will open people’s eyes. More investment is needed into coaching and education and having the support of professionals linked to this event is a massive opportunity for our community sport providers.”
The BYSA Foundation - which provides multi sports sessions, mentoring and tutoring programmes, work experience, apprenticeships, further education and employment opportunities to youngsters from deprived areas including Small Heath, Alum Rock, Sparkhill, Saltley, Sparkbrook, Bordesely Green and Tyseley, was founded in 2002 and positively impacts over 500 young people every week tackling critical issues including crime, mental health challenges and neurodiversity.
Initially centred on football, BYSA has broadened its offerings to include multi-sports such as cricket, tennis, badminton, squash, basketball, hockey, boxing and fitness activities. These sports are open to all abilities, from fun sessions to advanced training through the BYSA Centre of Excellence.
Access Sport’s free events focus on an introduction to neurodiversity including Autism, ADHD, Tourette’s, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia and Dyspraxia. They discuss the barriers and challenges neurodivergent people face in physical activity and what a neuro-inclusive environment looks like, including practical advice and adaptations for different sporting environments.
At each of the training sessions there are opportunities to share lived experience, best practice, and real-life examples to influence the session and discussion. The sessions are suitable for anyone interested in expanding their knowledge deeper into neurodiversity and exploring practical adaptations for their own sessions.
“I’ve enjoyed all the sessions that have been delivered by Access Sport and I’ve found them really valuable,” said Khattak. “Through practical examples and support these courses have given us the tools, knowledge and confidence to identify needs and to handle and undertake our own sessions moving forward.”
Janey Barrett, Youth Team Leader at The Pioneer Group, attended the ‘Neurodiversity in Athletics & Community Sport' inclusion training.
Barrett has experienced the positive impact of major events in the city previously including funding through Sport Birmingham linked to the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
She notes that while delivery builds momentum, making projects sustainable - specifically linked to upskilling individuals and being locally-rooted - is key to long-term success.
“I think what happens when you're busy, is you think, “Oh, another training course’, but sometimes you just have to give it that time, because by attending courses like this you get these nuggets of information that just change the way you do things, or they network you to somebody else,” she says.
The Pioneer Group, based in Birmingham’s Castle Vale, is a community-based housing association and the delivery partner for one of four new Community Athletics Hubs recently launched in the city by Personal Best Foundation. While all Hubs are inclusive and open to all children, the Castle Vale Hub will pilot an additional SEND-focused offer, developed in collaboration with Personal Best Foundation and Access Sport, ensuring children and young people with additional needs can access tailored support to take part in a way that works for them.
“One of the really brilliant things that we’ve implemented off the back of the neurodiversity course – and it’s not the most exciting but it’s so important – is the ‘All about me’ form that we fill in with the children at registration,” explains Barrett. “It gives them a voice to talk about what’s important to them, for example, ‘What I need when I feel sad is…’ or ‘What I need to feel included is…’. You can actually do it with everybody, it’s not just for those with SEND, but it’s about creating the safest possible space for all children and young people and it puts them at the centre. That’s been a really, really useful tool for us in terms of just being more holistic in our approach as soon as we meet somebody.
“In terms of the learning environment (at the course), it was brilliant. Everybody had different experiences and it was an open space for people to share, it was about their own experiences - and some people had lived experiences - but it was actually going, ‘We can all do this, somehow’.”
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.
As part of Access Sport’s continued work to deliver the Beyond impact plan, they will also be working closely with community clubs to introduce inclusive athletics or athletics-inspired activity.
Senior Development Manager, Sophie Humphries said: “Disabled and disadvantaged children deserve the same opportunities to access sport and community activities as their peers. By putting wellbeing, participation and enjoyment first, we can create environments where confidence grows, barriers are reduced and sporting talent can thrive. We're proud to be creating more opportunities across the Midlands, enabling children to build meaningful connections and discover a passion for athletics.”
You can view a short film here (insert link) showing highlights from the recent inclusive Community Sport Festival held at Alexander stadium, delivered by Access Sport and StreetGames as part of Beyond.
The Birmingham 2026 European Athletics Championships take place from 10-16 August. Tickets are on sale via this link.
For more about the Beyond programme, click here.
Upcoming Access Sport events include:
- Saturday 13 June - CP and SEND hubs launch at Leamington Athletics Academy
- Wednesday 8 July - Open Neurodiversity Training, 6pm-9pm at All Saints Centre, Kings Heath, B14 7RA. Sign up here
- Monday 12 October - Open Neurodiversity Training, 1pm-4pm at Nechells Wellbeing Centre
- Friday 30 October - Birmingham Inclusive Multi Sport Festival
If you are interested in any of the above activities or training, please contact Sophie on Sophie.Humphries@AccessSport.org.uk to find out more.