Active Black Country

04/11/2026

👏 More GPs are championing physical activity across the Black Country.

We are supporting applications from GP practices for the Royal College of GPs ‘Active Practice Charter’ for their work to promote physical activity among staff and patients.

Four practices across the region have achieved the Active Practice status, showing their commitment to promote physical activity as part of their wider services.

With more practices working towards the accreditation, it’s great to see physical activity becoming an important part of supporting healthier communities across the Black Country. We encourage more GPs to consider the opportunity.

🔗 Read the full story here: https://ow.ly/9azK5103k2x

03/11/2026

Great to be back at Courtside Pickleball UK in Stourbridge! 🏓

Our Community Engagement Officer Saqib Amin recently met Courtside Pickleball Founder Josh Yeng and his team to explore how we can support their new community venture, The Up-Side, which aims to break down barriers to getting people active by bringing them together through pickleball.

We love seeing local organisations using sport to tackle inactivity and build connections 👏

02/11/2026

📱Connecting communities across the Black Country

Active Black Country is pleased to be working with Joan Blaney and the William Wilson Turner Foundation through the Miss Ida health prevention and digital inclusion initiative to help improve digital connectivity across our communities 👏

Through Good Things Foundation's National Databank, SIM cards allocated to Active Black Country are being distributed to local community organisations, including Dorothy Parkes Centre, Team Slam Basketball Club, and New Park Village Football Development, helping people overcome barriers to mobile data access and stay connected to essential services and opportunities.

By working through trusted community networks, we're supporting digital inclusion as an enabler of healthier, more connected and active lives.

This project is funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority via its Sport England grant.

30/10/2026

📢 There’s still time to help make sure young people’s voice are heard across the Black Country!

We’re looking to hear from young people ages 10 - 18 about mental health, emotional wellbeing and physical activity.

If you work with a youth group, sports club, VCFSE organisation or community provider, you can support this work by sharing the survey with young people. Their experiences can help share future support and opportunities in the Black Country.

Deadline - Wednesday 4 November

🔗 Complete the survey here: https://ow.ly/cFat5102lNr

30/10/2026

We had a great catch up with Vicky Hines, CEO of One Walsall, during the World Mental Health and Homelessness Walk in Brownhills.

In this video, Vicky shares how something as simple as walking has had a positive impact on her wellbeing, and how it can help others too.

A big thank you to Vicky for taking the time to speak with us about the importance of getting more people moving to support their mental health.

Get inspired and hear her thoughts on the difference walking can make in our latest video below.

29/10/2026

📢 Join the Men’s Wellbeing Alliance annual 20k walk to support men’s mental health.

The MWA Annual Big 20 Walk brings men, friends, families, community groups and supporters together for a 20km walk through Walsall’s canal network. You can walk the full distance or join at any point along the route — every step helps make a difference.

- Saturday 14 November
- Meet up and registration 9:30am
- Walk starts at 3pm

👉 For more information and to register, click here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mwa-annual-20k-walk-for-mens-mental-health-tickets-1997690094850?aff=oddtdtcreator

29/10/2026

📢 This Black History Month, we’re celebrating Team Wolverhampton SLAM! and its inspiring work through the Your Spaces programme.

Through free basketball sessions at Heath Town and Peace Park, SLAM! is helping young people build confidence, develop skills and access new opportunities.

👏 With 20-30 children and young people attending each session, the programme is building stronger, safer communities, supporting future coaches, officials and leaders, and creating pathways into competitive basketball.

A huge thank you to founder Douaine and the SLAM! coaches, volunteers and partners for making a positive impact on the lives of children and young people through sport! And thanks to Wolverhampton Wanderers Foundation, Wolverhampton Today, the Premier League Foundation and local community groups for helping drive the projects success.

🔗 Find out more here: https://www.activeblackcountry.co.uk/news/slam-dunk-for-basketball-in-wolverhampton-your-spaces--project/

28/10/2026

📢 Looking to develop your organisation? There’s still time to book onto November’s Buddle Workshops!

Take advantage of Buddle’s FREE online sessions to expand your knowledge, learn useful new skills and help your organisation thrive.

🚨 Leadership and Governance Workshop
Wednesday 4 November
6pm-7pm
🔗 Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/leadership-and-governance-tickets-2000602543061?aff=oddtdtcreator

🚨 Developing an Inclusive Culture
Wednesday 4 November
7pm–8pm
🔗 Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/developing-an-inclusive-culture-tickets-2002067642212?aff=oddtdtcreator

Whether you’re looking to strengthen your leadership or make your organisation more inclusive, these sessions are a great opportunity to learn and grow.

Perfect for sports clubs and community organisations across the Black Country.

27/10/2026

🏊 Sandwell programme leaves schoolchildren buzzing!

The Sandwell Sports and Swim Club has given children from three Smethwick schools the opportunity to build water confidence, improve their swimming skills, get more active, and develop healthier habits alongside their families. The programme was designed by Sandwell School Games Organiser Hayley Probert and British Triathlon West Midlands Regional Manager Kirsty Outhwaite and funded by Active Black Country.

The 12-week programme was a huge successes, with one participant even saying: "I want to come here every day."

A brilliant example of what can be achieved when schools, families and partners come together to support young people and create lasting positive change.

🔗 Read more about the programme’s success here: https://ow.ly/FRjS5100t8T

26/10/2026

This autumn marks the fourth year of This Girl Can's 'Let's Lift the Curfew' - a national movement to end the curfew imposed on women by safety fears during darker nights.

During darker nights, safety concerns rise and affect where women go, when they go, who they go with and whether they can be active outdoors at all.

As a charity that gets people active, one of the barriers to physical activity is safety. Around 72% of women in the UK change their outdoor activity routine during the winter.

We fully support this movement and believe every woman should have the freedom to be active whenever and wherever they choose without fear holding them back.

👉 Read more information about the movement here:

Sport England's National Lottery-funded This Girl Can campaign details its Let's lift the curfew campaign about creating safe spaces for women to be active, all year round.