Ideas Made Real

The Overview

Gen22's Ideas Made Real campaign has given young people 16-24, across the West Midlands, the chance to turn their powerful ideas and youth social action projects into a reality. With an Ideas Made Real Award of up to £10,000 and support from Gen22's specialist team, the funding would kick-start their own volunteer journeys, making a difference to the lives of residents living across the region through the power of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The Reach

Over 3,000 young people from across the West Midlands we've introduced to youth social action over a 6-week period, through youth groups, schools, online sessions, and workshops, capturing their ideas on what they would like to change in their local communities or how they could improve the things around them for their own communities.

After an incredible response, and over 50 applications later - The Ideas Made Real team shortlisted down the projects to 22 successful campaigns that have been funded through the first and inaugural Ideas Made Real Award programme.

The Judges

Successfully shortlisted projects were invited into Games HQ, to pitch their ideas to panels made up of young people from our inaugural Gen22 Consultation Group, inspirational young people from across the region, and influencers, who supported with the decision-making process, and ultimately decided which 22 projects would be the first to be funded through the programme.

The Successful 22

You'll find a little bit more about some of the projects that have been funded below. A complete list of our projects, and what Ideas Made Real have funded can be requested by emailing: gen22@birmingham2022.com

Calico Theatre Company CIC / Look Sharp

Look Sharp is a socially relevant project which will see the creation of short film, with local community actors and performers, which aims to highlight the prevalence of spiking via injection in nightclubs in the UK. This project aims to flip the conversation around spiking, to think differently about the way gender-based violence issues are discussed and talked about, and who or what needs to change to make people safer.

Martha and Daz, the successful Ideas Made Real applicants, want young people 16+ to be educated on the importance surrounding the issue, while aiming to kickstart a conversation around gender-based violence.
Hannah / Beyond Hub

The Beyond Hub is a space for young people who have had their education disrupted to access workshops and opportunities which enable them to continue with education or employability. This is increasingly relevant now, as the impacts of COVID-19 on young people's education are slowly being realised.

This hub aims to help reduce the barriers faced by those who have had breaks in their education. Hannah will also be hosting the 'Lead The Way Youth Summit' to enable a supportive and creative environment for young people to discuss issues affecting their generation with industry professionals and local community representatives - allowing an accessible dialogue between younger generations and those who can make positive changes.
Grace / Local Hospice Garden

Grace applied to Ideas Made Real without letting anyone know she intended too, but came out successful, enabling her and her team of NCS Changemakers from the YMCA North Staffs to create this brilliant social action project, supporting a local children's hospice in Stoke on Trent, redeveloping the outdoor area into an accessible and multifunctional garden for the children and families who live or spend time at the hospice.

The garden will be a safe and interactive garden, accessible for all in the hospice. The main focus that they aim to deliver from this project are an 'under the sea' mural, and specialist outdoor musical instruments.

Khadija / Creative Minds

Creative Minds is an exhibition & careers fair which will display filmed case studies of local young creatives from ethnic minority backgrounds. The event will take place at the MAC, and includes performances from various young creatives and others, showcasing their work and new material. Local employers and training providers will be invited to attend and aims to encourage young people from ethnic minority backgrounds to get into creative industries, showcasing the wealth of skills and opportunities on offer across the region.
Tyler / Benson Bike Project

Tyler, and others, who are being supported by Benson Community Project aim to promote healthy lifestyles to young and old in the local community through a range of taster sessions, from football, cycling and walking projects.

Tyler's project is a walking and cycling club to provide less active members of the community with an accessible club, keeping healthy and learning to ride bikes, safely in the local community. This will serve as an introductory group for those who want to become more active, as well as an opportunity to socialise and help reduce anti-social behaviour in the community.
Sam / Here for Sport

Sam is passionate about rowing, but only got into the sport a few short years ago. Through Here for Sport, he aims to increase the uptake of rowing amongst children in Coventry. This project will donate indoor rowing equipment to schools and offer training programmes which can be incorporated into PE lessons. It will also offer specialist training for teachers to allow them to incorporate owing into PE lessons and demonstrate correct technique when rowing.

This project is an extension of the work Sam's charity Here for Sport already undertake. During PowerPlan, Sam demonstrated his passion for the project, as well as his confidence and ability in undertaking a large project.

Ideas Made Real

Ideas Made Real

The Overview

The Reach

The Judges

The Successful 22

Calico Theatre Company CIC / Look Sharp

Hannah / Beyond Hub

Grace / Local Hospice Garden

Khadija / Creative Minds

Tyler / Benson Bike Project

Sam / Here for Sport